Tuffy's Tales

One kilo of baking soda later ...

2010-11-04T22:39:00.000+08:00

Hullo!

I don't know whether you know this already, but baking soda does work. Just ... it's got a certain smell of its own. I can't quite describe the whiff of baking soda ... it's not exactly pleasant on its own. But it's by far, a better alternative than the present pong the Dexter and Wally been emanating.

I had them sit through a couple sessions of baking soda. First a light dusting. Then, I had a paste made which I marinade them in and let them stew for a bit - (the Furboys were not the least bit amused). Last step was to hose them over. By then, they were really upset. Three marathon showers in three days! Too much!

Determine to defeat the stink, I cornered the shivering pups with tea tree spray. And fumigate with glee! I like the smell. I know for a fact, my four legged charges may beg to differ on that ...

Satisfied with my work, it was my turn for a shower - minus the baking soda! :)

Reeking to high heaven!

2010-11-01T20:36:00.000+08:00

Dexter -crossly giving me the 'bum'. Wally looking (into camera) somewhat sheepish.

... that's the present challenge for this Dog Woods human slave. The wander pups - Wally and Dexter were up to no good again. Just to keep you up to date, having these pups 'snipped' have only merely dampened their spirit of adventure. They don't quite make an escape so much these days but when they do, they'll be gone for hours ...

Only God knows what they got up to yesterday ... but they came home reeking to high heaven. It's a pong beyond description. We don't have skunks in our neck of the woods ... but these Fur-boys, OMG! It's the sort of stink that makes you want to instantly gag.

I had to hold my breathe while scrubbing these Fur-boys down. Used all manner of soaps, disinfectant ... mind you, i had them scrubbed down at least thrice but to no avail! Maybe I should resort to tomato juice ... at the rate they seem to still stink ...

Tubby Jr: Fur-bands and howls

2010-10-27T23:38:00.000+08:00

Awoooo!

Tubby Jr. at large. Me likes to howl in pwotests. Gwannie Chief-y have been ups to no goods. She's sez it's Howl-woo-ween awound the corner and sez we need a costume. It fell on yours doggedly to be HER! :P (Talk about cweativity!). Chief-y being a vewy hair-bandy toting hooman decided that she'd have me in a fur-band of her devise.

Flattered by all the attention and fussing, I indulged her few photo attempts ... see ...It came out looking like this!! *HOWL!*

Honestly, the indignities we canines have to put up with!

Ol' Chief-y howevew thinks I'm being silly ... says her band-y cweation could make the scenes and walks of Ascot and Melbourne Cup (if only we canines were allowed in), all I'm missing is equally statement making frock to go with the headgear . Sometimes ol' Chief-y there forgets i'm a boy not a girl!

*Grrr-woof!* I think I have a tree gwoing out of my head ...

How much are the doggies in the window ...?

2010-10-26T13:15:00.000+08:00

Pictures of Tuffy, Snoopy and Brandy checking out renovation progress. Caught them 'posing' by the windows ... ;) Pictures are abit grainy - having taken them using a camera phone instead.

Tuffy and his daughter Brandy: *sniff* wood frames look sturdy enough ...

Beaming Tuffy and partly hidden Snoopy

A critical eye: Snoopy seems to have certain reservations about how progress is coming along ... the basset has very high standards!

Getting up close and personal ...

Special Site Supervisor

Hullo!

Brandy: Window frames are just the right height ... ;)

A fluffy addition ...

2010-10-23T21:27:00.000+08:00

Found this little bird perched on one of the branches of a sapling last week. It was night and the tiny fella had fluffed itself into a ball fast asleep. Initially I thought it was work of on of the pups - could have toss one of it's toys or junk onto the upper branches my plants but upon closer inspection I realised i was looking at a little grey fluffy bird smaller than my balled up fist.

Grabbed my camera - but was a little worried I might startle bird with flash photography. Tried also to look nonchalant about taking photos of sleeping fluff-ball ... knowing the dogs, my interest in 'Fluffy' would definitely pique their curiousity ... From the size and height of sapling, they simply could just shake the poor bird out of it's perch!

To my relieve I found Fluffy back on the very same branch the following night ... three nights in a row in fact. And on the fourth when she wasn't there ... I feared the worst. The dogs had sniffed her out! And birds don't usually fare well at night. But I think Fluffy (not sure whether it's a he or she), changes her sleeping branch now and again. Am glad to see her alive and well at the same spot I first spotted her last week. Not sure what species of bird she is, but she's sure fluffily cute!

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

No one's going to believe me ...

2010-10-20T16:59:00.000+08:00

...that's what I thought ... this morning as I watched that curious bright pulsating white light (think very bright flash photography or disco lights) flashing from a singular source into the darks of 3.20 am morning.

Accompanying those blindingly bright flashes was a low dull pounding buzz - which made me think of the hum of electricity coursing through life wires. The white bright lights pulsated to a certain rhythm and when it 'stopped' - you could see a faint blinking yellow light (the sort you'd see on aeroplanes). And this went on for at least 10 minutes ... alternating between pulsating blinding flashes that later lapsed into the faint flickering yellow.

Initially, I thought it was the florescent light (which hadn't been switched on) outside the window that had gone cranky. Oddly, those pulsating flashes were much too bright and too 'noisy' for florescent energy savers. Bleary eyed, I drew my almost 'blackout curtains' (yes it was that bright!) only to find the blinding flashes came from a certain distance. Beyond the tree boundaries of Dog Woods. It looked like it came from the neighbour's tree top or from the rooftop of another neighbour! That was probably a good 200-300 metres away.

'There must be a logical reason for that light ...' I thought, once those bright flashes cleared the sleepiness from my head. 'A robber attempting to cut through a neighbour's roof?' (The recent encounters with light as blinding as that was from the end of a steel welder's soldering equipment). But, the white light that emanates from a welding instrument is usually very narrow and focused. The strange blinding white lights I was witnessing encompassed a wide and great distance.

'A faulty electrical cable ?' - hence the dull buzzing pounding hum which drove the pack into a barking frenzy every time they heard the noise.

'Have the neighbour's flood lights gone awry...?' But their floodlights are usually warm yellow placed at the foot of the trees. The lights are only ever used over the Eid Festival. (see pictures I took over the recent Eid). Usually, it's just pitched black at night. (If you look at the picture, imagine it pitched dark, and white blinding flashes coming from somewhere in between of those trees)

'Someone with some major flash lighting equipment taking photos in the wee hours of the morning...? Perched on tree tops or on top of a roof...?'

And how does that explain the dull hum of a noise that accompanies each blinding white flash...?

I watched in bewildered alarm. Wondering if a fire would break out, should I call the police? Should I wake the others ...? But as inexplicably as it appeared, the light soon grew 'weary' and fainter and faded into the darkness of the early morning.

... I went back to sleep soon after - wondering what that was all about ... and since the rest of the human Dog Woods slept soundly throughout, only the dogs are witness to what I had seen. The pack after all were the first on alert - stirring me from sleep. It was those blindingly bright white flashes that got me out of bed to investigate. Am still not sure what to make out of the lights in the wee hours of the morning. One of Dog Woods human suggested I might have seen a UFO ...

Thing is, I don't believe in UFOs ... how then does one explain those strange lights?

Just when I thought ...

2010-10-19T17:26:00.000+08:00

... the newly snipped boys have run out of 'Romancing Juices', the rambuctious three have decided to dash into the unoccupied woods opposite. *Heaves DEEeeeePPP SiGH*

They've been good as gold since the unsnipped Tubby Jr.'s last outing. Am beginning to think perhaps I should just accept that the Furboys need their dash outdoors. They have been fairly capable in returning home after every self-planned outing ... Perhaps this is all a phase ... they will eventually calm down and be contented with the fairly large grounds (more than an acre) that they get free access to 24/7.

Honestly la!! (la-being a very Malaysian suffix). I've noted that half my canine pack - esp. the more mischevious of the lot would go through a ' I gots to get out there an explore' phase in their poochie development. Some would come home the instant you call them, some turn selectively deaf even you constantly call after them, but would turn to mush upon the sight of you (usually stewing) growling unprintable religious sounding words; Some decide its a game the more you go after them, the further they run! It's all maddening to varying degrees.

Maybe if I learnt not to get so worked up and accept that they need a little 'change of scenery now and again', these little episodes - admittedly, they're turning into mini adventures rather than the raging sagas they used to be, wouldn't be quite as stressful. Like I said, they know their way home. It's just that I worry something might happen to them along the way ...

I suppose, they've proven to be fairly capable at handling different circumstances on their own ... and they are fairly independent, affectionate dogs that don't bite. Just ... there are many non-dog lovers in the neighbourhood that don't understand canine behaviour and deem a curious sniff as hostile. Can't helps it. This human canine slave is a worry wart!

The return of the Newly Snipped!

2010-10-16T00:35:00.001+08:00

Hullo!

Dexter and Wally came home yesterday. At the very last minute, I had the doctor take in two instead of one. Figured at the rate I was already running around pandering to their canine whims, taking care of two post-op
pups (or three) wouldn't make much of a difference. I would have sent in all three, but the Vet-bulance could only accommodate a maximum of two pups. Tubby Jr/ - being the least mischevious, would only go in next week to get his bits snipped.

They're doing well - Dexter and Wally. I daresay Dexter's ALOT calmer. He did look quite cross that his bits were removed. Wally however seemed to have bounce right back - as if he never had the operation! I guess it's because Wally has always been the more quiet and reserved of the two - always the follower and never the leader. Although not lacking the mischief department ...

Tubby Jr yesterday made a run for it - thinking he now has his sidekicks in mischief. For a nice change, they were not game. But that didn't stop Tubby. I suppose that's his bid of having his 'last hurrah!' - seeing in his brothers what's in store for him in the near future.

So! It was the usual 'run of the mill routine'. Worried hooman slave go 'a-searching'. Calling out routinely as she anxiously paces the neighbourhood ... This time I found Tubby Jr at the neighbour's across the road - that is home to a canine pack that rivals Dog Woods!

Am just relieved that he was not harmed. The fur inhabitants living on the other side of the road are huge! Not in terms of quantity but in terms of size. Even I was wary - given a choice, I'd rather have Tubby come out rather than me go in looking for him! Judging at how quick he scrambled back without having to exit the neighbour's main gates, I now suspect that cunning Furboy has been using the underground monsoon drain that runs across the neighbour's property as a point of entry and exit!

And so, my furry charges are all presently safe at home ... Can't wait for Tubby Jr to be fixed. Mean time, Dexter and Wally are being very cooperative patients.

D-day!

2010-10-12T13:31:00.000+08:00

Hullo!

Human Dog Slave here. Today's THE day. I've decided to get the Furboys snipped one at the time. Post surgery care is crucial ... and from experience the Furboys can sometimes be difficult patients. I don't fancy chasing the three of them around Dog Woods twice a day to clean out their wound and get them to take their meds. So one at the time, it is. It's going to take alot longer ... 10 days it seems before the stitches come off. I've spoke to the good doctor. One every week. So each Furkid would get enough care and attention for at least a week.

I've decided that since Dexter's the most mischevious of the lot he's to go in first. Interestingly, the boy, sensing that something's bad about to happen has gone missing! Think he's hiding somewhere ... must go seek.

So, am going to make this a short entry. Must go find the pup before the doctor comes by to pick him up. Honestly, sometimes I think the dogs have psychic abilities ...

Smack-ems'...

2010-10-11T00:24:00.001+08:00

Woof!

It's me. Dexter. I'd like to clear my good furry name. Actually, our furry names - Wally, Tubby and me-furry self. We're not actually as bad as our hooman slave have described us to be. You can't blame three robust, handsome, healthy Furboys for looking for romance, can you? After all, it's only a natural thing to do. Birds do it, bees do it ... and we bets our furry paws, hoomans too!

Anywoos. We also really like to report that we've been getting a lot of 'smack-ems' lately. You think old Chief would be thrilled to see us home, but instead we get a smack on the bum-bum ... what a meanie! But really, it's embarassing! Especially for robust, handsome romancing Furboys. What will our girlfriends think ?!

Of course, we're very sorry for making the ol' Chief worry - for the moment, at least. Good ol' Chief usually has our dinners waiting no matter how late we come home. What a good thoughtful hooman! All that adventuring and romancing usually leaves us ravenous!

We've recently got woof from Daddy Tuffy that the ol' Chief is planning to have our bits removed. Honestly, we thought she was joking when she told us last week that she'll get our the doctor to cart us to his clinic and get our prized bits snipped if we pulled another disappearing act.

Nooooo...!! Surely, she's not going to snip our precious jewels?!

Me, Dexter ... now feels terribly anxious *whines pitifully* Me legs have turned to mush -just thinking about it. Am sure my brothers feel the same. They're all on their sides. Immobilized by anxiety...

Helps!! Save our bits!! So good concern readers, if you don't hear from Dexter or my fur-brothers again, report the Chief. We unnerstand there's a Pack of Hoomans out there that's against prevention of cruelty to animals...

Dexter's got to hide ...

The Snip-snip ...

2010-10-09T13:13:00.000+08:00

Thank you for your feedback. It's been indeed helpful in helping me decide whether or not to snip the Furboys.

Dexter, Wally and Tubby Jr

Yesterday, they had another run-away episode. The workmen were working on the fences and I suppose they decided to take opportunity to make a run for it - yet again. All three! Tubby Jr hobbled on home soon after but the other two, Dexter and Wally were gone for hours. I only found them at about eight in the evening - next door. The next door neighbours aren't exactly the biggest dog lovers ... because of their cultural and religious beliefs.

Not sure who was more terrified. The pups or the humans next door. The quirky thing about the Furkids is when they know they're in trouble - instead of making a run for it, they turn into submissive turtles. I suppose yesterday was a triple whammy. First, they knew they were in trouble for being in places that they know I don't approve, they were being cornered - with flash lit unfriendly, strange humans and worst, I had to appear.

And of all places they had to turn turtle was down a steep slope by the common fence of Dog Woods and next door. Can you imagine the inconvenience and embarassment of having to coax and persuade them to climb out of the ditch like area?! Fortunately, Wally decided to cooperate. Dexter on the other hand refused to budge. So I had to do what I had to do, haul Dexter out ... nearly 30 kilos and all. And all the while, I was mindful not to slip myself. The neighbour, bless him, was kind enough to help me out of the dark ditch while I manuovered Dexter out.

It's a good thing I've had a lot of practice carrying uncooperative pups who've decided their legs temporarily don't work ... I daresay, it's good strength training ... although usually at the expense of my back *ouch*

So yes! They are scheduled for a snip. The good doctor will pick them up next week to get the deed done. Even if it's not an intention of mine to breed them, I do feel a little sorry, they're having their bits removed. Hopefully, they'll recover quick and not miss the 'family jewels' too much.

To snip or not to snip ... that is the question.

2010-10-04T22:17:00.000+08:00

Hello,

I've been mulling over the question of getting the Fur-boys 'fixed' for the last couple of weeks. Last Monday Wally and Dexter disappeared for at least 12 hours. As usual, I was worried sick. That's the longest time they've gone and i feared the worst. I swore, if and when they return I'd get the doctor to give them the snip ASAP!

But now that they're all back and behaving (very well too I must add) am wondering whether it's the right thing to do. They're such beautiful dogs ... and *most* of the time are well behaved. It's just those moments when they do make a run for it and go off pawing the rest of the neighbourhood red, I find myself worry and wondering if the 'snip' would make them better behaved.

Tubby Jr (front with tongue hanging out), Anna and Wally

Every time they come home after an episode of exploring, they're exhausted -which am okay with tick because I know for the next few days they won't be making a dash for the great outdoors whenever the gates open. But what I am not okay with are the ticks they bring home (eeeuwww), on a couple occasion when they were younger, they would fall sick. Recently, Tubby Jr. came home with a injured paw. And this is not the first time he's been injured. The last time he came home with a great gash in his hind leg - spurting a great deal of blood and I had to get the good doctor stitch him up.

The poor pup's sustained a really bad sprain at his joints - which explained why he won't even let me touch his paw. The doctor reckons from the X-ray he was given, that Tubby either he fell from a high place and landed on his foot or something had hit him. And for a week Tubby Jr was a good little pup while the two other hooligans Dexter and Wally have been attempting to make mad dashes outside - which is usually thwarted by my yelling 'DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!' Somehow telling them makes them a little less confident about doing anything they know I don't approve.

Last night however, Tubby Jr decided to make a run for it with his two brothers. Alas, like small children, good behaviours only last for so long .... He didn't get quite as far as Dexter and Wally without his paw acting up.

Wally

But the good thing about the Furboys is that they know where home is and they do listen, esp. when I'm hot on their heels. Like last night, Tubby Jr hobbled on alone home when I told him to. He didn't even try to follow when I ran ahead to find Dexter and Wally. And when i finally caught up with the other two, they sheepishly, without a fuss trotted home, unleashed. Making sure I was up front - because they know they're in for a smack in the bum for being naughty.

Dexter

So, to snip or not to snip ... that is the question. Perhaps then, the Fur-boys would be able to help themselves.

It simply baffles me why they, the Furboys simply have to leave Dog Woods. There's more than ample space to run and play. There's also more than enough squirrels, birds and creepy crawlies to get 'em entertained ... in addition to all the fussing from their human (slaves) and food to go around. The Top Dog Tuffy is not snipped and he's doesn't try to make a run for it like they do. Maybe its because he's had his share of fun - which resulted in the Furkids ...:P

I just bet there's some female dog that's in heat in the neighbourhood somewhere ... which probably explains their need to go out gallavanting and 'sow their wild oats'. :P Perhaps I should just get 'em snipped ... we don't want to have unwanted puppies somewhere ...

Yet to intervene and taking away what makes them essentially Fur-boys doesn't quite sit well with me either. Perhaps this exploring is all a passing phase. When they get older they'll settle ... somehow ...

What thinks good readers?

Mid-Autumn Festival

2010-09-23T14:56:00.000+08:00

Mid-Autumn Festival at Dog Woods

Yesterday, we decide to something quite unusual at Dog Woods. Being it the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Mooncake Festival is a popular harvest festival, we had a dozen paper lanterns deck out the trees of Dog Woods. And the effect of it, was, I daresay, quite rustic. Except the fact that the candles don't quite burn long enough and paper lanterns somehow seem to disintegrate after a few rounds of lighting ... not forgetting to add, the Furkids somehow got hold of a couple.

Usually held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar, It is a date that parallels the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are many different varieties.

Traditionally on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomelos under the moon together. Accompanying the celebration, there are additional cultural or regional customs, such as:

Carrying brightly lit lanterns, lighting lanterns on towers, floating sky lanterns
Burning incense in reverence to deities

However, being a non-traditional chinese household, the humans and canines did none of the moon worshiping. We did however consume mooncakes and for the first time, since I've never done it before, decide to indulge myself in some paper lanterns, with the pack curiously observing ... once they learnt it had nothing to do with treats or anything they could consume they fell into a snooze ....which suited me fine since I was being jostled out trying to light the paper lanterns.

Snoozing Furkids

So here are some photos I took of last nights lanterns hung on the branches of the shrubs and tambusu tree. Once I ran out of candles to light, the pack thought it was game for them to help me take lanterns down. Needless to say, some of the lanterns are now in shreds ...

How bright the moon ...!

Guilty...

2010-09-18T20:45:00.001+08:00

Updates from Dog Woods

2010-09-16T21:29:00.000+08:00

Hello!

Today's officially 'Malaysia Day' , oddly enough in Malaysia's 47th years of achieving independence, the government's finally recognizing the two East Malaysian states (one of which were Dog Woods is) role and contribution to the Federation. :P

Well. Let's not get started on politics and the state of affairs of the country. Tuffy's Tales is after all, a blog dedicated to the dog-dom realms of Dog Woods and it's furrily loyal canines subjects.

A quick update though. From my last post, it's still the Chinese Hungry Ghost Halloween month (honestly, much too long!) Think it'll last till next week. Since it's one of those moveable 'feasts' - I don't quite keep track. But apparently, right after the Hungry Ghost month comes the 'Moon Cake' festival and the cakes, being round like the moon are extremely yummy! :)

The New kitchen

The new living

Dismantling of old ceiling ... and rewiring works

Refiling and extending the present garden area ...

Renovations are going fairly smoothly. But with all the bank holidays the last couple of weeks, progress has been rather slow. It's still looking fairly rough, but at least the walls are up and there's a roof over our heads when it rains ... Rewiring's more or less complete, next step is the plastering guys ... then we can get started on tiling the floors ... and putting in some fixtures.

As for the Dog Woods pack, Anna's had a wound on her back that had to be stitched up recently. Am not sure how that wound came about. Suspect she might have had a little mishap somewhere and tore free ... along with a little bit skin and flesh on her back! I think i was more horrified than she was ... and got down the the business of cleaning out and medicating her wound. For the briefest while i thought a bandage would work ... but Anna would just peel it off and lick away whatever ointment I had put on her wound.

Her wound's doing much better. I expect, the stitches need to be taken out soon. It's amazing how robust these canines are sporting injuries. Other than looking somewhat miserable whenever I was treating and cleaning her wound, Anna least perturb she's sporting a 'boo-boo'.

As i type this, it's evening. The rain has finally stop - making the green grass and trees of Dog Woods looking fresh and crisp. From where I sit, I've been watching the pack happily running about, patrolling the grounds.

It's such a joy just watching the Dog Woods pack run. They all have different styles. Anna gallops - like a racehorse and a couple of her Furkids, Brandi and Wally, take after her. Joe the Rotweiller is fantastic for short distance sprints. Tuffy and Snoopy being Basset Hounds, comically trot as quickly as their short stumpy legs can carry them. The other two Furkids, Tubby Jr. and Dexter, although build more like their stout Basset father can do quite a quick scramble ... although, not quite as fast as their Doberman mom, Anna.

Anyway, am off to give the pack their dinner. Snoopy's being trying to get my attention by 'yelling' at me and smacking her lips. She's sure knows how to get the 'I need FOOD!' message clearly. So I'm off before Tuffy starts joining her. He's ALOT louder!

Hope all is well where ever you all are.

Unwittingly Spooked

2010-08-24T22:56:00.000+08:00

I don't know if you believe in the unseen world of spirits but I just realised, belatedly that is, that it's the Chinese 'Halloween Month'. They call it the Hungry Ghost festival - where the gates of hell opens for a month to let its inhabitants roam the earth

I never thought myself as one that's superstitious nor have a certain sensitivity for the unseen, but all of today ignorant of the fact that the evil spirits have been let loose to roam earth, I've been feeling, I could only describe as an ominous feeling that something not quite good was about to happen or happening. And that puzzled me ... I mean sure, I may on occasions have certain reservations and anxieties about things, but this was the sort of gnawing anxiety that I can't seem to shake off no matter how rational I thought about it.

Strangely enough, it began at the stroke of midnight. For some reason that inexplicable descending dread kept me up tossing and turning till the wee hours ... while the dogs howled... I suppose the pack knew something ominous unfolding while their disturbed, anxious, puzzled human was getting increasingly annoyed that it would soon be dawn and she's still awake.

It was only a few hours ago, while admiring the full moon rise above Dog Woods with the pack, wondering about the firecrackers crackling in the distance (it's not quite a Muslim practice to set off firecrackers during the fasting month of Ramadan) - wondering what occasion was ...after all, firecrackers are burned to chase away evil spirits ... I finally remembered someone mentioning yesterday evening that today marks the Hungry Ghost Festival.

So that inexplicable uneasiness and anxiety was merely a case of being spooked! And while I felt it distinctly, I hadn't really recognized it for what it truly about. That must have frustrated some evil spirits ... ;)

As I was writing the paragraph above, there was a shattering of glass below. The mess is all cleared now. Am relieved that no one was hurt. Thankful that all throughout this puzzlingly ominous disturbing day, I had taken the time to pray, to seek out divine intervention to see us through the day .

Day and life of the Dog Woods Pack

2010-08-16T17:07:00.000+08:00

Honestly, a dog's life of the Dog Woods Pack really is not bad at all. They don't have to worry about where or when their next meal is. A roof over their heads. They have more than an acre of yard to run about. Daily human interaction, affection and attention which they simply cannot get enough off .... I reckon they only stress they suffer from are from the good Vet's visit (Snoopy gets most upset!), excitedly chasing down all sorts of creepy crawlies, from pesky squirrels and rats to the occasional pedestrian walking outside the fences of Dog Woods. And perhaps a spot of green envy. Everyone wants to be fussed over by yours truly at the same time! I sometimes wish, with eight of them jostling for a rub-down, I had eight arms instead of only two!

Speaking about fussing over the Dog Woods pooches. They get massaged daily which they can't get enough of. Talk about a good life! I don't even get that kind of treatment and I'm a hoo-man! They (the pooches) got it spot on. We are their slaves! But honestly, with the loyalty and abundance of affection, in addition to being accidently trodded on, pushed, jostle and jumped on, I really don't mind being their biped slave ...

I've since - with the amount of affectionate activities that takes place in Dog Woods stopped wearing anything that resemblance a dress or a skirts. With jeans one can ignore their cold wet noses sniffing up your legs, or run after an errant pup up to no good ... but not in a skirt or a dress! :p

So while i wrestle the throes of renovation works, tradesmen and the mess they leave behind, them pooches are having it good. They've grown accustom to the constant banging and hacking and snooze right through it! The Furkids also find the evolving structures very interesting to explore ... unfortunately at the expense of them workmen's work boots that they tend to leave within paw's reach! I've picked up more than a few one sided chewed gum boots ... along with other bits and pieces which I reckon used to be part of someone's shoes ....

Dog Woods Reporting ...

2010-08-12T23:32:00.000+08:00

Hello!

My bad. Been real quiet on the Dog Woods blog front. The renovation has taken over and consumed our daily lives. Not only are the humans feeling displaced, the dogs too. With all the tradesmen trooping in and out of Dog Woods, hacking and banging away ... am somewhat relieved that the pack have graciously grown to accept the daily disturbances as part of their day time routine and stay out of harm's way by snoozing.

Renovation: works in progress

They only just about come back to 'life' once the workmen are done for the day i.e. by five in the evening. I reckon it's more to do with it being dinner time than anything else ... having said that, it's interesting how accurate pooches are in keeping time. I honestly wonder how they do it. It's like they have an internal sun-dial or pooch time ...

Am a bit worried about Joe (the Rottie). He being the oldest of the pack is beginning to limp. I wonder if it's onset of early dog arthritis? Or hip dysplasia? Must get the good Vet to come by and give him a once over. Other than his limp, he doesn't seem to be in pain. I've checked at least twice a day. He's his usual active self. Eats and always game for a game of fetch.

Joe and his ardent Furkid 'admirer' Tubby Jr.

Why do dogs age so much faster than humans? There's no questioning facts of life even if you wished it were otherwise ... Must do what I can to maintain their health and prolong Dog Woods Pack lifespan. As much as they drive me up the wall sometimes, they are my Furkids. I don't know what I'd do without them.

Furry Mischiefs

2010-07-28T10:34:00.003+08:00

Deeexxxttteeeeerrr!!!!

2010-07-25T23:41:00.000+08:00

Dexter, resident hooligan of the Dog Woods pack have developed a rather worrying after dinner habit. Most dogs would take the dump after a meal, but not Dexter. That young dog simply has to slip out through his secret exit, go sniffing about outside and chase the occasional car that drives by. By then, the rest of the pack are alerted by Dexter's 'extra-curricullar' mischief and are wailing away in protest. And almost always, an annoyed, very concern human voice can be heard above their barks.

'Deeeeeeexxxxxxttttteeeeeerrrrr! You come back RIGHT NOoooW!!!'

And as if following a script, he'd come to a screeching halt, turn around, head hung low, tail drooping, with a rather sheepish expression comes trotting back to the main gates to be let back in.

I suppose I ought to be glad Dexter clearly understands that he should stop whatever he's doing and comes right back. Am also somewhat relieved that the drivers of cars that Dexter's been chasing have been kind enough to slow down and let him have his 'fun' (without him getting run over). What am most concerned about are the random cyclists or joggers that out of whim decide to take the short cut by Dog Woods with Dexter lurking outside.

Knowing Dexter, he'd be having a field day giving chase (thankfully without sinking any teeth)... and that's enough to traumatize anyone!

So far (touch wood), that's not yet happened. However, at the rate the same scene takes place daily, it's trauma waiting to happen! Must double my efforts to locate his secret escape route ... I have a suspicion that Dexter's developed climbing skills ...

Tuffy's new friends ...

2010-07-18T00:54:00.001+08:00

I've always been wary introducing Tuffy to small people ... he may be furry cute and short but he could easily knock someone over with his sheer bulk.

So when some Penan children came to visit Dog Woods a few weeks ago, I had the entire pack confined - for their safety. But Tuffy being Dog Woods Top Dog simply had to make sure the young visitors were warmly welcome. Needless to say, they were immediately won over.

Here are some of my favourite shots of Tuffy and his new friend.

'Helloooo ...'

Tuffy's signature 'How do you do?' paw greeting

This be ...

2010-07-08T21:04:00.001+08:00

My first attempt to grow my own herb garden ...

dill

... the green fence to keep the dogs out ...

...what Tuffy thought of my ambitious gardening project (considering am not known to have green fingers...)

*bleah*

... Snoopy trying to be helpful ...

... the volunteering natural pest control canines

chasing down a scent

... the guilty pups that got under the fence that dug it all up

'Uh-oh ...'

... the pup banished to their 'naughty corner' (like that helped ..)

*sniff*

...the pup looking most contrite!

'I'm so sow-weeee....'

That partying in the distance ...

2010-07-03T22:52:00.001+08:00

The city has been playing host to the World Interhash Run 2010 over the last few days and there's been much evening revelry in the distance.

Hash runs, so I'm made to understand, is a trail run through remote and exotic terrains (around the world) while enjoying copious amount 'liquid refreshment'. In other words it's a drinking club with a running problem where the 'Hare' sets a trail run and the 'Hounds' follow with the ultimate goal of reaching refreshments at the end. Naturally, being 'hounds' there's bound to be much baying ....

It so happen that the venue of 2010 World Interhash Run is but a stone throw away from Dog Woods (my bad, I've not actually seen the hash runners in real life) ... and so, we've been listening to World Inter-hash runners's evening revelry in the near distance. The 'Hounds' indulging themselves in the human version of baying i.e. loud singing, band playing and people gleeful cheering. Mostly, I find it quite entertaining - the band and singers are really quite good! And I find my feet tapping to the beat ... which the dogs find quite curious.

The Furkids however, does not seem to appreciate all that human baying in the near distance. They've been howling and barking angrily whenever the singer in his/her rendition of some drinking song hits a certain pitch. I suppose their super hearing, all that loud singing and music in the distance nothing but a gawd awful racket and admittedly, on some occasions I can't help but agree (you call that singing?!??!)

As I write, someone's singing Abba's version of the 'Dancing Queen'! :) She's really good! The dogs are strangely quiet. Perhaps for once they have the same music appreciation as I do!

A lull in between ....

2010-07-01T00:13:00.000+08:00

Hello!

We've been really busy at Dog woods lately. Renovation works. Which explained the silence. It's been one project after another ... with yours truly coping and cleaning up messes that's off any charts!

I've since come to the conclusion that men (esp. them workmen) have higher mess tolerance than women per se. They seem to take it in their stride leaving heaps and trails of what-nots in their paths. And while they throw things into an unsightly rubble waiting for pigs to fly before it gets all carted away, I on the other hand am of the opinion that daily messes ought to be cleaned up before it gets ahead of you.

Which explains my daily state of conflict and increasing blood pressure whenever I encounter that ever growing mother of messes .... which, obviously leaves me in no state to write. If it weren't for the dogs who are such a lovely distraction those workmen would have frozen over many times over with my scorn!

So, to keep you up to date with the happenings of Dog Woods. The Dogs are still on a diet with me watching their food and proportion while they happily gobble it all down. Tuffy and Snoopy are the same ol' basset hound-y self. Joe can never get enough of his game of fetch. Anna adores being adored and the pups ... are up and about their usual mischevious furry selves. Tubby Jr had a minor spot of tick fever which has since cleared. Wally and Brandi being very well behaved even with the main gates wide open. The pups would still occassionally do a quick run outside and return back just quickly. I think they finally understand that the grounds outside are somewhat 'off limits'

Dexter however has a secret escape hatch somewhere along the chain-link fences which I've not yet uncovered (no matter how hard I've been looking). The young pup's been taking liberty of venturing outside with the rest of the pack usually barking loudly to let me know some pup's up to no good beyond the territorial boundaries of Dog Woods.

I no longer worry quite as much as I used to when it comes to escaped pups since they don't disappear for hours as they used to. Dexter being the main culprit, would come scampering back the minute the others howl their protests. I suppose there's no fun in venturing outside on your own ...

As I write, the lawn is strewn with heaps of tree branches and scattered leaves. We've had a team to trim the trees the last few days and the usual leafy Dog Woods is looking a bit bare, not forgetting messy. Am hoping when the trees grow out, we'd have more shady foliage rather than lanky tall trees

Someday, when the renovation's and landscaping done - Dog woods shall look like this (assuming the dogs don't chew off the bench and flatten them ferns first)!

Something extraordinary...

2010-04-22T22:51:00.000+08:00

Awooo!

It's Dexter!

Today I did something quite extraordinary.

I asked Grammy Chief for a shower! *shock!horror!*

Now what could have gotten to my furry brains you ask??

Don't know, really .... I saw Chief-y giving Daddy Tuffy a shower (he asked for it too) and followed by Uncle Joe (who also asked for it). They both seemed to enjoy the entire hosing down alot so I thought ... since it was also a very hot and humid day, why not give it a try?

And a try it was. Even the Chief was incredulous when I stood by the garden hose and look up at good ol' Chief expectantly ... not scampering away as I usually do.

"Dexter?! You want a shower?!?!"

"Yesssss....!"

I even let her finish washing off all the suds before I waddling off!

Now that am all nice and cool the Chief tells me moments like these makes her want to buy a lottery ticket. "Who knows? I might strike the jackpot!"

My un-showered brothers and I

It's all jibberish to this furry pup. What's a jackpot? If it's not food-ables am not innerested...

Bounce!

2010-04-20T23:50:00.000+08:00

Awooo there!

Dexter here. I like to share with you this fun ritual we Furkids devised called 'Bounce!'

Bounce! is all about showing our furry furry furry appreciation to our one and only Grammy Chief- who cares for us, feeds us and fusses over us.
Without her we're lost!

First, run with all your might. Locate adored human bean - (in our instance, Grammy Chief).
Then, launch, leap - whatever that would propel you towards your wonderful human target. And ...

BOUNCE!

Gets Chief-y every time!
We always get to hear her 'yelp' in response ...

Woohoohoo!!

DOGS ONLY ...

2010-04-11T21:47:00.002+08:00

Here at Dog Woods we offer a wide range of day spa and mini-day spa packages. All our spa packages include a Day Spa Pass which gives you full access to Dog Woods Spa facilities.

We would like a emphasize that this invitation is exclusively for DOGS ONLY (since we know for sure - judging from our Chief's reaction) that your human mommies and daddies would definitely NOT APPROVE).

1. The Roll in the Sand Experience:-

This is the ultimate exfoliating and rolling experience will actively sweep away all previous squeaky sudsy attempts of your human to noxiously shampoo you, leaving fur wonderfully sandy and dusty.

This therapy allows dogs free access to roll in the cool sandy hill of Dog Woods to their heart's content. Followed by restful lie in the sand, the sandy spa experience will leave any pup fully 'refreshed' and revitalized.

We do not, however, recommend dogs to lick sand because this would leave less sand for the rest of us enthusiastic pups to roll in.

2. The Mud Pack

This age old dog beauty secret of cool aromatic mud generously applied all over body will give any pup an instant attractive muddy appeal and reverse any canine aging. This cool mucky technique also aims to combat any heat lethargy, release tension and combat tight muscles and speeds up zoomies.

'Zoomies ...'

Unlimited mud wallow specials (where pups can wallow in mud till a mucky mess) are limited to rainy days only.

3. Dog-roma-therapy

This therapeutic smelly experience will reawakened any pup's sense of smell and fun. Reeking to high heaven - this smelly sensation will repel most humans (other than your mom who's probably going to check you in for a shower, so proceed with caution)

This ultimate reeking experience promotes a wholistic sense of well being and and relaxation leaving any pup 'de-parFUME-fied' and canine-ly energetic.

Due to the fact that trails of thrash juice only happen twice a week (after the rubbish truck's visit) we can only offer the Dog-roma-therapy ton Tuesdays and Fridays.

All Dog Woods Spa packages include complimentary and unlimited drinks from muddy watering hole, garden dig outs (any where you please!) and fun hunt and chase of any other non canine creatures (with the exception of humans), unlimited roll in the grass and lunch of kibble.

Unlimited roll in the grass

Mud drinks galore!

Free lifetime Dog Woods spa membership is offered to any pup who'd chew holes into reels of Dog Woods' garden hoses!!

Conned!

2010-04-09T00:00:00.000+08:00

Awwoooo!

Dexter again ...

Today I was conned by You-knows-who ... :P

Grampy's sure has many tricks up her sleeve. She lured all three of us (Daddy Tuffy and Brother Tubby) where the garden hose was and caught hold of me! (I didn't know she had showered Daddy and Tubby earlier) I could have put up a fight but out of respect for good ol' Grampy who can sometimes be sneaky (like in this VERY instance) I gave in. It has been a hot couple days after all and me being dark fur-ed and all ... I suppose a shower would do me some good ...

So! Grampy's happily hosing me down with (nice cool) water and giving me a good scrub. Just when soap was lathering , all nice and bubbly - I gave Grampy a slip and ran off to join my momma and sissy at barking at some thing in the far corner of Dog Woods.

Woo hoo!! Ruff! Wuff! Wuff! Wuff!

All I heard as I excitedly bolted was a distant yelp - by You-knows-who. Heard my name too. But judging from the tone and the way it's called i.e. 'Dddeeeeexxxxxx-Ttttteeeeerrrrr!!!', my canine instincts tell me that it's best to lay low for a bit and stay as Faaarrrrr away from Grampy Chief's longest garden hose (she got 'em in the gigantuan reels! I kid you not!)

As for my horrid smelling lathering bubbles, I gave myself a good roll in the sand hill (which i shall tell you about one day) to squish 'em. Haha!! Nothing like a good roll in the sand to give you that good ol' sandy feeling of muck and grime. Wheeeeee!!

Once upon a time ....

2010-04-07T14:49:00.000+08:00

... not a very long while ago, Anna's ears looked like this:-

...Perky!

After a few but violent clashes with late Trixie (the Belgian Malinois), her ears now look like this:-

Half droopy...

Am not sure there's anything one can do about it but to live with it. Anna doesn't seem to mind with her new state of ears, I guess I shouldn't fret ...

Canned barks and Coonhounds

2010-04-05T22:08:00.000+08:00

Hi! it's Dexter again!

Grammy Chief says I bark funny. Am not sure what she means - because I certainly wasn't trying to be funny when I bark. I was being in my most serious, watchdog self *GRRrrr*

But according to Gramps, my bark sounds 'Canned'. When asked to elaborate, she says it's sounds like a steel-ly squeaky attempt of a bark in a can. Harumph! That doesn't sound at all flattering...

Grampy's consoled me saying it's unique. If the pack were to bark in unison, she can tell which bark is Dexter's. It's a pitched above the rest apparently.

I just discovered that we (my siblings and I that is) look like Coonhounds today. I haven't heard of coonhounds so I doo-gled it. Here's a picture I found from be web. Don't you think the resemblance is uncanny?

Coonhound

Alright, admittedly maybe just the face - I am a wee bit shorter and longer than the rest of my siblings. Grampy Chief says I look more like an oversized sausage dog. Harumph! Just when I thought she's being mean to me to today (two insults in one sitting is too much!), Gramps goes on to ask 'why's Dexter so irresistably cute?' and gives me such an affectionate hug I forget what I was sore about in the first place.

Opening gates with me snooters - a post by Dexter

2010-04-02T16:48:00.000+08:00

Awoo, arroo, awoo ...(translated : Allo, allo, allo!)

Dexter on the blogs!

Yes, yes ... I knows all's been quiet on the Dog Woods blogs since Trixie's passing. We all miss her still. Grammy Chief and Joe don't look so down these days ... they still go about their daily 'Fetch game' routine at the exclusion of the rest of the pack. (Boo!) Mind you, that's not stop us from enthusiastically joining in but almost always the Grammy and Joe would growl at us to 'back off'. According to the Grammy Chief, the aim of the game is to fetch the toy NOT jump on Joe ( all FIVE of us - Mama Anna included)

Boo! Talk about spoil sports.

I suppose it's a good thing too ... because all Fetch games end in showers. *Brrrrr* Honestly, I wonder what ol' Joe the Rottie sees in them. He sure seem to enjoy it alot. Either that, or he simply knows how to indulge Grammy Chief - who (I daresay obsessed) with showering us lot. Trixie used to indulge Grammy too. Dada Tuffy and Aunty Poopie would on some very hot occasions indulge in some cooling down but somehow we pups never quite caught on. I reckon we take after Mama - who'd scuttle as quickly as her long legs can carry her the minute she hears water running! Too bad our legs aren't as long as Mama's ...(we always get caught :P)

Anywoos. If you don't know which Dobie-Hound is Dexter. This be me on the RIGHT (as I usually am ...;)) The handsomest of the lot. Unlike my three other siblings I'm have more silky black markings. The Chief says I'm possibly the longest dog in Dog Woods. I think that was mean to be a compliment - esp. when my 'sits' are described (by ol' Grammy Chief as) 'strange squat on my hind-nies (legs)' or a 'side legged flop'. The Chief reckons the day I do a proper sit on my bum, my front legs won't be able to touch the ground ... which almost always leaves her chuckling with amusement. Unfortunately, I don't always get human humour ... :P

Well! What can I say. I am unique. My tail is alot curlier too, unlike me ol' dad, Aunty Poops and siblings Brandi's, Wally's and Tubby Jr boringly stick straight tails - which in all my unique Dexter-ness makes me the cuter-est of the Dog Woods Pack! Now you now why my sister Brandi tends to pick on me ... she's jealous I'm cuter than she is!

As to this blog title 'Opening gates with me snooters' - I proudly can! Am just about the only pup in the Dog Woods Pack tradition of being able to open gates and doors with my snooters. The rest tend to prefer their paws. What can I say? Am Dexter-ly unique! ;)

Lingering on ...

2010-03-05T01:54:00.001+08:00

They say dogs have the ability to see and sense things that we humans are unable to detect. Joe, our resident Rottie has on a couple of rare occasions demonstrated behaviour that I thought quite peculiar. The sort that had I allowed myself to be freaked would make my hair stand! But you see, even if I seem accept that there is a spirit world out there - am not the superstitious sort nor am I easily frightened by stories of hauntings and expect to see ghosts. But there was once or twice in our usual frenetic game of 'Snatch Fetch', as the day grew darker and the shadows longer, Joe actually froze, drop his toy and stared at a darkening canopy of bamboos - once, I remembered he growled.

I was wary but saw nothing of course.A Rotweiller's growl is not to be taken lightly. I thought his behaviour was a little odd - especially when he can never seem to get enough of his game of 'Fetch' and even when his not playing he would guard his toy like his life depended on it (a typical Rottie trait am told). To drop his toy in mid-play and stare into distance was definitely out of the ordinary.

I never really gave that odd but rare behaviour much thought until I recently read Dean Koontz account of his own dog, interestingly called Trixie in his book 'A Big Little Life - a memoir of a joyful dog' who once demonstrated behaviour that he (not a believe in ghost nor expect to see one either) could only surmise as Trixie happily accompanying her 'invisible tall friend' (she kept peering up and wagging her tail) a tour of the house.

A few days ago on our usual evening romp, Joe was oddly not into his game of 'Fetch'. He would usually pick his toy and carry it with him eager to begin his game but that evening he left them laying idle. Instead he behaved as if he was looking for 'something' - chasing down a scent and occasionally taking moments to stare into the darkened distance.

I read Joe's body language quite easily (as he does mine). He understands simple English - so I've observed. Apart from the usual obedience command like 'Sit', 'Stay', 'Come', 'Heel', Joe knows to go looking when I ask him where his toy is. He seems to be able to remember where he's last left his toy. He'd also know how to get me to get his toy for him if it's beyond his reach - usually too out of my leveled sight. He looks at me eagerly, runs to a spot and looks pointedly. And if am a little preoccupied pottering about, he does a little jig, goes 'Wooah!' (a bark that's indicative of wanting), looks at me and stares again pointedly at a spot as if to say 'Here! here! I know you can't see it yet but it's here!'. It could be under something somewhere (a drain, his cage, under the car), up in some tree's branches (god knows how his toy got up there ...I blame it on the squirrels!). He would not leave the spot until I get down (sometimes into a dirty drain) or climb to investigate. And almost always Joe is spot on about where his 'lost' toy is. So on my hands and knees, equipped with a long stick, I strain to retrieve his toy.

The things I do for that dog! But just to see his glee when I finally hand him toy for him is reward enough.

That evening, I could only guess that he was looking for Trixie and he somehow 'found' her at her usual spot she would stake when I'd tell them both to 'Take a break (from their frantic game of 'Snatch-Fetch') and grab a drink'. It was almost a daily routine where they would both trot to that one particular garden hose where I'd give them both a drink. Joe would almost always sit patiently on the right of the garden hose near the potted plants and Trixie would stand or lay panting on the grass to my left while they wait for their turn to be watered and showered down.

Joe for some reason that evening without his usual game, soon lead the way to that particular garden hose. I took that as him wanting a drink and a shower. But instead of sitting patiently, he stood and stared pointedly to the spot where Trixie would always lay panting when she was alive. When I said, 'Are you looking for Trixie? Where has she gone?'. He looked at me and looked back at that spot, as if to tell me 'Look! There she is!' and watched with interest for a while, oblivious to the running water and my mutterings about missing Trixie.

Maybe Trixie's spirit still lingers on and in her cheeky self she got Joe to go seeking after her (like she usually do when she successfully snatches his toy ... she'd make him chase her - sniffing and seeking about Dog Woods) and almost always their game would end at that one particular garden hose where she would finally relinquish the toy for a drink and shower while Joe would make a quick grab for toy.

It's just a hypothesis. I don't know for sure.

But after that moment by the garden hose, Joe shook the water out of his fur, surveyed his surroundings and trotted off to pick up his toy where he had last left it eager to start a game of 'Fetch'.

Goodbye Trixie my Pixie 23.12.2006-23.2.2010

2010-02-26T00:10:00.004+08:00

Dearest Trixie,

I could have sworn I heard you barking last night. That distinctive Malinois pitch - that certain bark when you insist on getting something - usually's Joe's toy. For a moment I thought Joe and you were playing your exclusive version of 'Snatch-Fetch'. Only to remember that you are gone.

Then Tuffy barked, as if to answer. Followed by the howls of the entire pack (interestingly without the prompting of the siren's wails). Maybe that was you after all. Back to say your goodbyes since you left us so suddenly.

I've been deeply comforted by the circle of hearts. Kind, supportive words from bloggers alike. Personally, I've never heard of the rainbow bridge until I started reading other dogs' blogs and how dog's who've passed on goes on to be a star. It could all be tales but I'd like to believe that you've gone to a much better place. Where you can run and play all day till your heart's content and not be hampered by your inherent physical limitations.

This evening as I was staring into the heavens, I witnessed something most curious. A silent moving globe of light - the size of a distant star ... yet a little nearer to earth. For a while I thought it was a flying object - an airplane? A helicopter? But usually their lights would blink, and this light was constant. Nor was there a distinct roar of engines. I stared at what I could only describe as a 'little star' moving towards the half moon ... and then as mysteriously as it appeared, it dissappeared into the moon's light.

All I could think of then was you, Trixie. Maybe they were right after all, you have gone on to become a star.

We will all miss you. The Furkids for being their race- queen ring leader. Tuffy and Snoopy would miss your affectionate wags and kisses. (Not sure Anna would miss you since you almost made ribbons out of her face). Joe will miss having you in his game of 'Fetch' or 'Snatch' - infact, just now after a game while I was giving him a drink from the garden hose, he half expected you to sneak up to his toy and snatch it away! And I most of all would miss just calling for you and watching you come happily bounding.

This is the only way I know how to say goodbye Trixie. With words. Take care darling girl. Love you loads.

Tee, Tuffy, Snoopy, Joe, Anna, Tubby, Wally, Brandi and Dexter
Xoxox

Acute Pancreatitis

2010-02-24T17:44:00.004+08:00

""Acute Pancreatitis"- that's what Trixie's doctor said was the cause of death when he called to report later this morning.

"What caused it?" I asked. He answered, "No one can be too sure. However it is common amongst particularly amongst female dogs. Causes? It could be her diet (but they all eat the same thing!). Her age (Trixie's four human years old) But there's no determined causal link ...although some breeds are known to develop the problem "

The puzzling thing is, Trixie out of the lot was possibly the most robust out of the pack. She hardly ever had diohrrea, or vomited. Hardly ever shown signs of lethargy or developed a fever. Infact, hardly fell sick for that matter. From the day she came to Dog Woods as a wee pup of 3 months she was always on the go. She was so hyper, I had to properly school myself on how to handle and train a dog so highly strung!

To be honest, she was the one that caused the most injuries amongst the other dogs. The two, Joe the Rottweiller and Anna the Doberman never stood a chance against Trixie the Belgian Malinois. Don't get me started on how many times Joe (the Rottie) got nipped in the butt and the wound later demanded some careful care. And then there's Anna - Trixie's caused some major damage there too - twice required stitching and draining. Even from her cage recently, she manage to inflict a couple of bites on Anna's left check. Because of the recent clashes I've been giving both Anna and Trixie many running checks just to see if I've missed any injuries. Trixie almost always seem to come away unscathe after clashing with either Joe or Anna.

And then all of a sudden she left us. Time's up. Maybe all these while she's been trying to tell me that something's wrong and I mistook that for her being afraid of firecrackers (since she scaled her pen's fence every time she heard a pop). You know the song 'Who Let The Dog Out??' - that was Trixie. She'd let herself out, climb any fence or gate that confined her - more so over the CNY festivities.

The only time she required the doctor's attention was when she had a piece of skin dangling from behind her left hind leg. Am not sure how that happened (from running too hard - into fence?) but she came bounding and sat even without me calling. And when they are that good, something's definitely amiss...The doctor had to stitch her up.

I suppose am still plagued with 'what ifs ...' Could it all have been prevented ... had I called the doctor earlier .... *sigh*

To think those pictures were taken a little more than a week ago. After Joe returned from having his wound treated (thanks to Trixie), Anna getting bitten (by Trixie yet again) and Wally getting tick fever.

So rest in peace Trixie. I'll always remember you. Some day I'll see you again ... over that rainbow.

Thank you for your kind thoughts ...

2010-02-24T08:39:00.002+08:00

Dear kind warm readers,

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I truly appreciate them. It helps - at least for me trying to get my mind to accept the full fact that Trixie's gone for good. There's always so much to do at Dog Woods. If it's not the dogs to mind and fuss over there's the chores to be done at home, meals to cook and people to fuss (or boss ;) around. But in those still moments where nothing immediate warrants my attention I find myself staring into the horizon. If there was a mirror before me, the expression would be that of bewilderment - slightly gaping mouth, furrowed brow, and a look - lost somewhere, going over and over again what had caused her sudden death. That's when the sad realisation dawns - that I would never see Trixie (or Iggy as I'd usually call her), again

Dog woods is fairly spacious - more than an acre, enough space for the nine dogs to run about without cramping their style. Understandably I can't possibly keep an eye out on all nine of them at once... the two Basset Hounds would be tumbling over each other - Tuffy teasing Snoopy and Snoopy giving him a mouthful of what she thought, Anna and the Furkids would be chasing down or digging up a scent (someday I'd post pictures my increasingly crater-ful lawn), Trixie would be running in circles attempting to herd us lot (minus the butt nipping - which we trained her out of), Joe clutching a toy would be looking for a game of fetch.

Usually after all that play and if i knew that no one would be visiting, the dogs would be left to roam about freely (within the confines of Dog woods that is) - with minimal supervision. And that's when it happened I think ... where and what happen to Trixie within that moments while am pottering about. What had she ate? Could she be bitten? What kind of bug had she picked up - so virulent that it took her life so suddenly. Now am afraid for the rest of the pack ...

Will call the doctor later (don't think his practice is quite fully open yet) to find out Trixie's results.

With a heavy heart ...

2010-02-23T22:19:00.002+08:00

... Trixie crossed the rainbow bridge today. It was so sudden. I discovered her lying so still this afternoon in her crate when the doctor finally arrived to give her a check.

She wasn't touching her food the last couple of days and I had been feeding her the usual multivitamins (when the dogs are not eating). Thinking it could be tick fever (since Wally was down with it last week and the Vet had been around to see him twice) I had the Vet to come round to give Trixie her shot of antibiotics only to discover she was no longer breathing.

To think she was ok this morning and I was fretting over getting her to swallow her multivit. Am still trying to grasp the fact that she's gone. I can't say am numb. Just shock. Not quite sure how or what cause her to leave us so sudden. It's not that she's been ill for prolonged periods. Even the good doctor was puzzled. He'd just seen her last week - trotting about her usual sunny mischevious self.

And that's how it is whenever I think of Trixie. Her alertly trotting about - being ring leader to the pack of Furkids (Anna's usually kept in her pen when Trixie's out since they both don't get along), giving chase to whatever that moves (joggers, motorists, neighbour's dogs) - all well within the confines of the Dog Woods perimeter fence (so no harm done to others)

She was character in her prime who love nothing else but to run like the wind, snatch Joe's toy and guard her home. And now she's gone. I feel so sad whenever I think I'd never see Trixie with in all her fawn handsome-ness patrolling the perimeter fence. Or come running (usually the first to arrive) whenever I call, or just to sit pretty - just to show that she's a good-er girl than the rest of the scampering lot - who's usually playfully wrestling about.

The only explanation would either be a) deliberate poisoning from someone who hates the Dog Woods Pack or b) bitten by a venomous snake - cobras possibly c) a heart attack - from too many firecrackers? (honestly, Trixie's heart is built to withstand firecrackers ... though she does like to complain about them alot).

The good doctor's taken Trixie's body for an autopsy. Still running some tests when I last messaged him. We'll all know tomorrow why Trixie left us so suddenly.

That not so innocent 'puddle' ...

2010-02-22T01:26:00.000+08:00

Sniffing for pity

That not so innocent looking 'puddle' that's left on either ends of the coffee table or the legs of the sofa is the chief-est reason why Tuffy (self claimed basset top dog of Dog Woods) is banned from the living area. And when that happens, out comes industrial cleaners. From disinfectant wipes to detergent, anti bacterial-ladened clean ups - yours truly determined to get rid of all manners of germs and smells that comes with his lordly pee - only to be satisfied with at least a couple of wipe downs.

Understandably it's a alpha male thing to want to mark his territory - so long as it's done outdoors.

One would have thought, with a large yard, miles of grass and many trees to mark and closely supervised outdoor romps - usually to water them telephone poles, Tuffy would have emptied his bladder. But somehow or another, the ol' boy almost always have some emergency reserve left for the corners of the couch, the legs of the coffee table or the sideboard!

'*Howl!*, I surrender!'

Mind you, the Tuffy knows leaving his mark indoors is unacceptable behaviour yet, he's determine to take his chances ... preferably behind our backs, of course. But yours truly have since learn to pre-empt his urges. Before he even thinks of lifting his back hind legs I'm already on his case. A stern 'Tuffy!!' and off he'd sit guiltily - knowing he'd been caught yet doggedly unrepentant he'd not been quick enough.

Basset Charmer at large

All's usually forgiven one's he's slunk off to join the rest of the pack merrily playing - momentarily given up the idea of leaving his noxious mark indoors. We all know, given half the chance, the top dog Tuffy will be back to mark his spots indoors!

Double Greetings ... and many adoring licks and wags.

2010-02-15T01:45:00.001+08:00

Hello!

It so happen that this year's Chinese New Year falls exactly on Valentine's day. So, here's wishing everyone out there a very:-

Happy Valentine's Day!

May there always be an abundance of affection and love in your life!

and

to those who're celebrating the Chinese New Year a very

Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

'Gong Xi Fa Chai!'

P.S. The Dogs are riding the loud festivities with much aplomb. Trixie's back to her old gregarious self now that the fireworks and firecrackers have quietened down a little. As for yours truly, am lying low, seizing the opportunity to grab some much needed rest (after some major baking).

According the Chinese beliefs (I only JUST read) that tomorrow (the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year) is believed to be the birthday of ALL dogs! I really must have something special planned for the Dog Woods Pack tomorrow :) Last but not least, here's yours truly and her pack, wishing all you wonderfully adorable doggies out there a :-

Happy Happy Birthday!

Trixie sedated

2010-02-07T22:32:00.000+08:00

Hello!

I had to give Trixie a couple of sedative prescribed by the Vet this week. She was freaking out big time. The loud blasts in the distance coupled with thunder and lightning was too much for poor Iggy (that's what I call her) to bear. Being a pixie as she is, Trixie leapt over the 5 foot high gate that we sometimes close to keep the dogs out from certain areas. Then she frantically wanted to squeeze through the french window grills just to get to where I was.

At the rate she was going (she was trying to squeeze through the window grills!) hurt was bound to happen. So two pills it was. I had her swallow the lot whether she liked it or not. To my relief, she looked a lot calmer after that. At least she wasn't trying to climb any thing she caught get her paw on or squeeze her head through ...

Have made a mental note to ask the doctor for more. I've got 4 more pills left - am not sure that's going to last me till after the Chinese New Year. We're not even on day one of the CNY yet and I'm down to but four ( a mere couple of doses).

It's interesting though ... the older Trixie gets the more terrified she gets of loud blasts and thunder storms. She was never this way when she was younger - then again, most pups are innocently clueless ... I suppose it's a fear developed over time. Them dogs deciding for themselves that they absolutely hate loud rumbles or blasts and start fussing.

Now that Trixie's attended to, my next patient is Tubby Jr. He's got a swollen front paw and has been hobbling about today - I must add, quite capably doing the stuff the Furkids would do minus 50% of his mobility! So far I've not detected an open wound ... but he would yelp if I applied pressure to the sides of his paws. I suspect either he got bitten by a noxious creepy crawly or he got bitten by his brother in a fight yesterday evening. Other than the hobbling on threes, his appetite is perfectly fine. He does however seem to get worn out alot quicker hobbling about on three legs rather on four.

I suppose on the bright side that keeps him from scaling up a tree by the fence and going on one of his nocturnal escapades outside of Dog Woods (now that they discovered that weaknesses in fences have been secured).

Honestly, at the rate of mischief the Furkids get up to, sometimes I think I'm dealing with monkeys rather than young dogs! Do you think getting the male Dobiehounds 'fixed' would help tone them down somewhat?

Trixie and Tubby and Snoopy in the corner

Dream a little dream of me ...

2010-02-04T17:48:00.004+08:00

Do dogs dream?

I seem to think so. Over the years, I've seen my pack - most twitch, some whine, others bark, while the more active ones make galloping motions and all that while they are horizontal (usually on their sides) with their eyes closed.

It's all quite interesting. And the good Vet seems to agree - when he was at Dog Woods this afternoon.

It's always been a better option for the good doctor to pop by than yours truly having to struggle to drive with four gregarious, mischevious pups and one highly strung Belgian Malinois. Believe you me it's quite a job hauling FIVE heavy reluctant pups into the car and out again ... and it doesn't help the four Dobiehound pups have an aversion for car rides.

Speaking about aversions or phobias of ... once upon a time ago, when the Dobie-hound pups were younger I discovered they all had an innate phobia of leashes and collars. Am not sure where that came from ... but it could be that they were allowed to roam unleashed and collar-less as wee pups. I simply had to dangle a chain or leash across their back and suddenly they are immobilize. It was all rather amusing. They were perfect sitting statues!

Now that they are bigger and have overcome that particular fear, the three - Dexter, Tubby and Brandi, are real hooligans - esp. when they find a weakness in the fence and decide to go about exploring usually returning home - usually, with one side of someone's shoe! Obviously shoes that don't belong to the humans of Dog Woods!! (Bad dogs, baaaad dogs!!) I've seen an assortment women's heels, loafers, sneakers, slippers strewn across the front lawn which I can only guess come from one of the neighbours ...( which is a good thing we don't have too many!)

While am just as puzzled as the victim who's missing one side of his or her shoes as to where the other side has come from (or disappeared to), I usually end up feeling quite guilty ... Am not even sure whom to apologize or make up to. While I make it clear with the Furkids that I don't approve of their nocturnal explorations and leathery finds. I think they understand my disapproval well else why would they skulk away sheepishly whenever I questioningly hold up some badly chewed up shoe. No need to even ask 'WHO DID THIS?!' ...

I suppose dogs will be dogs...like all dogs, they have selective hearing and understanding ... :P

On days like these, I wish they never outgrew their irrational fear of collars. All I got to do is put a collar on and I know they'll be ... within the safe confines of Dog Woods.

While we're still on phobias, I got the good doctor to prescribe Trixie some sedative. According to him, he's seen many dogs injure or even kill themselves because of the fire crackers (the bomb like explosions) and fireworks they let off over the eve of the Chinese New Year (CNY) and the last day of the CNY.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Trixie and the rest of the pack will be fine for the CNY explosive celebrations.

Wordless Wednesday: Bottom's Up!

2010-02-03T00:07:00.000+08:00

Clash of the Divas

2010-02-01T14:59:00.004+08:00

Anna and Trixie are it again ... just when you think they've forgiven each other and forgotten about their violent bitchings (against each other). They clashed - yet again - yesterday evening.

I've taken to separating them. Confining Trixie to her pen in the day, while Anna gets her daily romp. While Trixie's time out is in the evening. Trixie, due to some major weakness in the pen's fencing has been letting herself out each evening. Notably earlier every day. Yesterday it happened that she let herself out when Anna was still out and about with me.

It has happened before and they went about their paths peacefully. But yesterday was different. I think it had to do with me. They were fighting for who gets her right with yours truly. I suppose in a way it's flattering but it sure is a horrifying way (at least to this human) of settling the score. I was more concern about them getting hurt.

When we finally separated them - there was some blood in Anna's mouth. And that's the mystery of it ... I gave each one of a them a good check for injuries - and neither one sported any open wounds. So where did the blood come from? Someone bit her tongue? Blood was gone a few minutes after and while Anna was safely back in her crate Trixie sported a noticeable limp (esp. when I'm looking) - while she seem to have no problems giving chase. She was patrolling Dogwoods in her usual self the entire evening.

Makes me wander sometimes, dogs are definitely clever enough to elicit some kind of sympathetic attention. Am quite relieved that they're both ok. Must check them over again - just in case.

The mystery of that 'magical' patch of grass and more ...

2010-01-27T14:43:00.000+08:00

Hello there!

I suppose what I've observed as the Dog Woods Pack idiosyncrasies is possibly common to most dogs.

I've often wondered about that 'magical' patch of grass that seem to draw the entire pack to have a good roll in that one particular spot of the lawn. What is it about that patch of grass that deserves extra 'rolling' attention from the dog to the rest of the lawn? Interestingly enough, that patch is never always at the same place. It's here, it's there ... sometimes it's no where!

So what is it about that magical grassy patch? The smell? Age poo? What? It's not exactly foul smelling (yes, I've even bothered to take a closer whiff to unearth the mystery of that magical grassy patch). I've not quite figured that out yet ... it's possibly something that's beyond most human senses. Possibly some dried up worm or long dead bug ... maybe even bird poo ...

Anyone got a good guess?

Then there's the question of their eye sight. How far or short sighted they are. I can't quite decide whether Joe the Rottweiller whom I play fetch with almost every evening is short sighted or long .... while seems to detect thrown objects fairly well. He seems to be able to predict it's thrown trajectory very accurately ... yet when he momentarily loses it (like his ball for example) he seems to miss the toy even if it's hidden right in front of him. Instead of sight he relies on his sense of smell to sniff out his missing toy. He doesn't seem to notice that I'm pointing out his toy to him ...

Yesterday night, Joe fell into fairly large uncovered drain right outside the house. I thought he would have seen it had he not been blinded by my car headlights. Perhaps a dog's sight don't adjust quite as quickly when they are stared with sudden bright lights. It was a good thing Joe was unhurt and was able to hop back out of the drain (it wasn't very deep). I was a little concern though - I heard a distinct thud. And most thuds are usually painful.

Trixie, Anna and the Furkids on the other hand are fairly long sighted dogs. Something or someone running from a distant and they pick it up and give chase. I've seen them give chase many times to squirrels scampering across the telephone wires above (yes our wires are still 'hung' on poles, not buried underground in most developed places) or birds strutting about on the branches above ....not that the pups can fly but they can't help but create a fuss anyway...

While the basset hounds - their nose makes up for any short sightedness (which I don't think they suffer from). Even the tiniest morsel of delicious smelling food they're able to pick up. You can tell they know you have something yummy in hand when their nose start twitching. It's all quite amusing to observe.

The thing about all members of the pack is their super charged hearing. They'd come running expectantly - no matter how far away, they here any packaging being rustle! It's almost hilarious. Sometimes a false alarm - since I do come home every now and again with bags of groceries. They've since come to associate the rustling of packets with treats!

The new year and bangs in the nights ...

2010-01-24T11:45:00.002+08:00

Hello! Happy New Year!

Time sure flies. First the flurry of Christmas festivities ... then it slips into the new year. And now in a matter of a week it'll be February!

February will not be a good time for the dogs - possibly the worst. Chinese New Year (CNY) - make the Dog Woods Pack shiver with fear.

Why?

Them blasted fire-crackers that most celebrating household play with relish. It doesn't help either that firecracker supplies can be found in abundance - most would enthusiastically set one or two strips off now in January! (can you believe the 'enforcement' - or lack of BANNED items!)

Which explains why Trixie's already complaining now (she's whining to me a lot more these days) and you can see her trying to get into the same room as I am whenever she 'feels' one is about to be set off! The poor girl is going to be down right miserable come the CNY!

Now what's this about firecrackers and the chinese new year? It's got to do with scaring away evil spirits (you'd scare me and the Dog Woods Pack away too even if the dogs and I are half Chinese! ;) !) and to usher in the new year.

It's the 'playing' or firecrackers that is deemed fun which explains the enthusiastic sporadic bursts of loud bangs over the evenings leading up to the chinese new year which Trixie particularly is unhappy about and which I've put up with living here.

Anna (the other perky ear-ed member) seems unperturbed - mainly because she's kept in her crate in the evenings after those few violent confrontations she's had with Trixie. There's something quite comforting about lying low in the cosy confines of one's crate when there are loud scary noise to deal with (am quite glad Anna is not scared of storms nor the rest of the Dog Woods Pack). Trixie on the other hand seems to be working up some kind of whiny anxiety every time it pours the older she gets (for some unfanthomable reason). Thankfully, not as bad as what I've seen with Donny (the rehomed German Shepherd) who'd get restless and refuse to eat.

While the rest would barkingly howl or protest after each loud bangs. The puppies who are not quite puppies anymore, seem to have develop some cautious reservations about those loud bangs in the nights. Hopefully none of their reactions would be as anxious as Trixie's - that Belgian Malinois is known to climb fences to get into where you are when firecrackers are let off! I suppose their floppy basset hound-y ears help in a way by shield their highly sensitive ears from all manners of loud pops.

CNY eve is one very loud and long bursts of firecrackers (some sounding more like dynamite blasts) all set off in unison just before the stroke of midnight. Imagine the extent of most (with the exception of this household) households thorough out the city setting off firecrackers! It's not only deafeningly loud, it's smoky, smelling of burnt gun powder and whatever that's in those crackers and fireworks that's permeates the air till dawn! Not at all environmentally friendly exercise I'd say and the dogs would be positively cowering! :P

So wish us all luck with coping with all those loud bangs in the nights.

Interestingly enough, the first day of the CNY celebration falls on Valentine's day! Talk about double whammy for them doggies. Good thing, they don't know what Valentine's day is all about ... else they'd have even more to be complaining about!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-27T01:36:00.000+08:00

Hello there!

It's been a busy, interesting Christmas week - with family visiting and feasting. The Dog Woods Pack have been included in the festivities - with many yummy treats going around (much to Snoopy's glee ... for some reason she's been one perpetually hungry dog since she returned from the Vet!) and new toys.

It's interesting to note how the dogs know the difference between their new toys and old ones even though they look exactly alike. It's funny ... like Joe and Trixie. They would wrestle for the one TuffTire everytime we play 'Fetch' but when I produce a new one - thinking it would be nice that they each have one to carry about, they ditch the old Tufftire in favour of the new one and wrestle each other for new Tire.

Then there's their individual colour preference. Tuffy likes blue - give him the black and blue, you can actually see his eyes light up at the blue ... and he'd go runing after blue ball instead of black. Joe on the other hand prefers either black or red.

So before the next round of busy-ness sets in and I won't have time to sit down and write, I'd like to wish each and everyone of you good readers and your adorable furry members of the family a very Happy New Year. Here's to good health and peace!

Snoopy's Back!

2009-12-23T00:39:00.002+08:00

Hello there everyone!

I am please to report that Snoopy's back home at Dog Woods and is up and about. The great news is that her liver is back to 'normal' - (some cell count which I fail to grasp) and she's been constantly asking for treats - which is very normal Snoopy. She's lost some weight because of her liver issues - which is good for her because she's alot more active being a lighter basset. It could be that she's alot hungrier since she's now recovered, hence the hopping and prancing about - trying to get our attention so she'll get fed a treat or two.

Am glad she didn't have to stay at the Vet's for very long. Infact in a mere couple of days, the Vet called to say she was ready to come home. Missing home sure worked wonders on Poopy girl who had to be put on a drip for a couple of days.

We're not exactly certain what caused her liver problems so we're monitoring the environment to keep an eye out on possible things that may cause liver problems. The Vet said something about bacteria that rats carry that may cause liver to react. Admittedly, I've seen a couple rats scuttling about ... so maybe that could just be the problem. Kill the rat and save the dogs! Easier said than done since rats (which I gather is related to squirrels) are equally cunning ... our traps don't seem to be working for some reason.

A feline addition to Dog Woods would be a helpful alternative but unfortunately no cat would ever come near Dog Woods (what more consider to stay) - for obvious reasons.

Ratty thoughts aside, I'd like to wish everyone of you good furry and fur-less readers a very happy Christmas and a Wonderful new year!

Anna Up, Snoopy Down ...

2009-12-16T21:09:00.000+08:00

Hello!

My bad. I've been away... only to return with alot more to do and organize! Putting that aside, am happy to report that Anna's out of her 'cone of shame', her stitches removed and she's looking like her old self. Am really amazed how fast her wound has healed. Dogs truly have tremedous healing prowess!

Anna - back to sniffing business

However on the downside, I noted upon my return that Snoopy was looking a little sluggish. She wasn't eating. Not like her to refuse a treat even! Usually she'd be the first to wolf it down her share of treats before the others and give you an expectant look for more!

Had the good doctor come by yesterday - when he couldn't find anything physicaly wrong with her - apart from the bad plague buildling up on her toothies, he had some blood drawn to be tested. Snoopy apparently has some liver infection - external boo-boos I can deal with, but internal ailments worries me.

Snoopy looked a little perkier after the doctor gave her a couple of shots - although I daresay, she wasn't the least pleased at being poked and prodded. I was hoping her appetite would return but she still refused her dinner (maybe she's just tired of the same ol' stuff). She had a little bread after, but that was it ...

The doctor recommended a couple days stay at the Vet's - deciding to put her on a drip so her liver can clear out whatever toxins that's affecting her. She wasn't at all pleased that I had sent her in. Out of the entire Dog Woods Pack, Snoopy hates the doctor most. Even the sound of his car sets her off barking! I don't think she's ever forgiven him for poking and prodding her when she was a wee pup - she had such sensitive skin then. It's still sensitive (and the humid weather doesn't help much) but at least she's no longer suffers from red angry bloody itchy welts.

I do hope she recovers soon - admittedly I've got a soft spot for Poopy Girl (Snoopy) - she's the only pup in the pack that knows how to say 'Please can I have some more?' in dog language that is. Can't wait till I can bring her back home ...

Anna, Tuffy and UP

2009-12-05T06:44:00.003+08:00

Hello there!

Anna's back. The good news is her lump is a mere cyst - that formed over an old injury (possibly due to the violent confrontation Trixie and Anna had a couple months back). So no worrying cancer cells there ...

The bad news is, her face is in stitches. Not all of it but just the sight of stitches under her lef eye coupled with that post surgery puffiness - let's just say, Anna's not looking her sharpest. The poor girl also in a 'collar'. While her appetite's there (she wolved down her dinner in no time at all) she's still a little awed (judging from the droop of her usually pointy Dobie ears) from having her lump fixed.

As for Tuffy's lump, the doctor's confirmed it's merely a bruise swell brought on by injury. The lump should go down in time, since our Alpha Basset has had a history of 'fat lumps' that soon disappeaered over time ...

I do hope face heals quickly. Anna being Doberman likes looking sharp and right now her self and face esteem has taken quite a beating and she still hasn't quite figured out what for! Poor poor girl.

On a brighter side, I finally saw UP (Pixar) yesterday (like my animations) and it was as good as the reviews. One of those movies that leaves you with a 'feel good' feeeling at the end. Dug the canine hero of the movie reminded alot of Tuffy - the underdog who later became Alpha dog. It was quite hilarious ... although Dug's a golden retriever in the movie - some of his physical demeanor, flappy ears, rotund body, drooling tongue, and how scared/brave he was and how eager he was to please ...

Tuffy - Dugs-y!

Then there were a couple of Rottweiller and Doberman characters in the movie that seem to fit Joe and Anna. And how all dogs would somehow loose their train of thought (play or sniff) if anyone yells 'Squirrel!' - hehehe. In Dog Woods that would be me doing a version of a high pitched mouse squeak and the pack would come running to investigate. Sometimes, if they're quick enough they'd catch sight of a squirrel making a dash across the branches above and that's when the excitment begins! It's a pity my camera is never fast enough to catch them in flying action.

So yes, there's much relief and one's thnkful that the pups inspite of the occasionally oddments on their bodies are happy and healthy. Anna, as i write this has gotten over her awe and is now prancing about - doing the usual 'damage' with her cone ... it's looking somewhat 'dented' already (i think she's discovered it's a useful 'ramming tool' with Tuffy at the receiving end). Sue, i simply must go order one of collar rubber tubes you mentioned a while back ...

Oh dear ....

2009-12-03T12:17:00.001+08:00

This is what happens when you try to fix something that's not broken ... :p I thought i'd try to add a little Christmas cheer to 'Tuffy's Tales' only to have unwittingly delete my previous templates and widgets. At least now, with a little tinkering around I can now begin to edit Tuffy's page. My previous template upload attempt - while was nice and green Christmassy ... had all the page's edit tabs so nicely hidden away, I had trouble working the page.

While I feel somewhat regretful over what I've just done ... (All that history on the sidebars! Gone at one silly, uninformed click. Is there a way of reverting to my old page? Does somebody out there know?) I suppose on the the bright side, this minimized page is a blank canvas for make-over. Hopefully, this time I won't mess up the page tamplates and widgets. So Op Pack, Martha Bailey (you've got fantastic looking blogs)... anyone who's got some idea about personalizing blog pages pray enlighten this blur human ...

Putting my editing mishaps aside, Anna has just gone in for her biopsy. We'll see how that turns out. I hope to be able to collect her home by this evening. Alwas feel so sorry for the dogs when more invasive procedures have to be taken - just because of one suspicious looking lump. Speaking of which Tuffy boy has a lump on his side too - after being snapped at by Joe. Joe has this thing about NOT sharing his toys - The TUFFTIRE is official the Rottweiller's, and the Rottweiller's alone.

The other dogs only get to play with TUFFTIRE only after Joe goes into his pent to snooze. As for the wee mesh ball (in previous post where Tuffy was chewing on it) ... it's not quite as robust as they put out to be. They've given the mesh a good chew and it's looking decidedly too fragile for another episode of Dog Woods rough and tumbles ... I've since retired the ball for fear of some pup (Joe particularly ...) greedily deciding to swallow the rubber bits.

Happy December!

2009-12-02T00:43:00.000+08:00

Hello!

Happy December! It's amazing as well as somewhat disconcerting how fast time goes by. Soon it'll be Christmas and then another new year - 2010 - wow ...it's been a decade since we celebrated the millenium! Yet it doesn't feel too long ago since that happened! It's when the realisation hits you, that so much time has passed, I'm always confronted with that question - did i use that time well? How much have I achieved? That question almost always leaves me somewhat anxious - how do you actually measure achievements? Objectively you could use types of material yardstick,but not all accomplishments can be accurately measured that way.

I reckon the dogs are not quite as concerned (as we humans are) about accomplishments, effective use of time and the concerns of againg ... they live life and enjoy every moment of it, more so the mischevious ones and have no regrets. I've always thought we could learn a thing or two about living life from our four legged friends - at least about savouring the moment and worrying less.

Speaking about worries - Anna, our resident Doberman has a worrying lump just under her right eye which I recently discovered. Apart from that worrying lump (that doesn't seem to hurt even if i apply some pressure on it) she looks to be in the pink-est of health. Trotting about enthusiastically, with a healthy appetite. Then there's a couple of Fur kids - Tubby and Dexter that I think are a little under the weather. While they're active and eat well, they look like they've lost some weight. I wonder if they've got worms ... or is it merely their human who's got nothing better else to do but to fret about the state of seemingly healthy dogs ...

While the Furkids, I can deal with (been supplementing their diet with high concentrated vitamins), I had the good Doctor to have a look at Anna's lump. She's due for a biopsy tomorrow. So we're keeping our fingers crossed - paws too (if the dogs worried as much as their human) that its merely a hardened 'fat lump' ... :p

Will report again when she gets back after the Doctor's done tests on her lump.

Christmas came early this year ...

2009-11-24T17:20:00.001+08:00

You could say, Christmas came early this year for the Dog Woods Pack ...a box of recommendedly robust looking toys arrived in Dog Woods from Singapore last week. I suppose you could call them a spoilt lot - having their toys specifically imported from the next country ... thing is, we're down to our last Holey-Moley Ball (I bought them FOUR this year - the other three are no longer safe to play with - with bits almost falling off) and not one of the pet shop in the country now have them in stock!

While the pet shop do sell some toys, but at the rate the Dog Woods Pack goes through them - shredding 'em before you can holler 'Nooooo!' ... you think it's simply not worth even the buy. The problem starts when they decide to swallow the bits that ends up blocking their digestive system ....

So far, it's only been Joe who'had his digestive system blocked and unblocked (via surgery) ... although he recovers soon enough and is always game for a game of fetch, having to go through the experience of surgeries and recovery with Joe is enough for us to be wary and more selective of toys for the pack.

While ideally I would have liked to get hold on a few more of them Holey Moley balls - they being suited for both big and small dogs. The selection of robust looking toys that arrived in the Dog Woods Pack toy was met with much enthusiasm. Joe's been happily snorting with approval with his TuffTire. It's since replaced his Holey Moley Ball in his game of fetch. Being a Rottie, he's not let Trixie even near his precious new tyre - not if he can help it!

The Basset and the Furkids however prefer the small mesh ball (which needs to be kept away from Joe just incase he decides to swallow it whole!) being similar to their favouirte Holey Moley. Admittedly, the TuffTire is a little to bulky and heavy to play tag with but that's not stop the Furkids from chewing on toy. Unlike Joe, they're a little uncertain on how to 'play' with tyre.

Because the toys are not readily available (forced to import and you're not certain too whether they will be in stock) , I'm forced to 'ration' them. One type of toy each at a time and they have to 'share' - (which am afraid, dogs are not very good at) ... but I get them to chase toy so everyone gets to play along ...

So here are some photos of the the toy hoggers ... enjoying their moment with their new toy before I come along and make 'em work for it. ;)

Rehoming Donny

2009-11-07T14:19:00.001+08:00

Hello!

I meant to write about rehoming Donny but as you can tell I've been slacking the last couple months in my blog postings.

Yes, Donny and the rest of the pack had some issues. Once nursed back to health, he had the tendency to bully the lot into subservience. It was not only dominant posturing but snarly show of teeth, intimidating growls which usually end in major fights.

And it wasn't very pleasant at times - having to break up fights at least once a day. It got to a point where I had to put Donny on a long leash while the rest of the pack were out. He would protest of course, they being able to roam about free while he was only given a 20ft diameter range to roam. The others, both Bassets and the Furkids especially having learnt their lesson would stay at least 21ft away from Donny or risk being attacked.

While Donny seems to have a soft spot for Trixie - mainly because she's female and look most like him. However, the feeling wasn't mutual. She's snapped back at him telling him to back off and knowing Trixie ... she does a mean snap when she wants to make a point. The only time she doesn't snap is when she has something to hold in her mouth - which explains why in most action shots, Trixie is holding on to something. Look at poor Anna for instance. I no longer them Anna and Trixie play together for fear of another bloody confrontation. The last time resulted in Anna having stitches in her frong leg 'elbow' and having to be on a course of antibiotics to prevent infection and inflammation!

While that's Trixie's capabilities to inflict grevious injuries. There also Joe to be reckon with. The Rottie is not known to like to share - esp. his toys. I taught Donny, with his months being with us, how to fetch and he discovered, he liked the game. Only he wasn't allowed to play fetch while Joe is playing fetch - the Rottie will run any dog or pup down - even Trixie's cowed. And Donny being a newcomer doesn't know the rules of the Dog Woods Pack just yet and I wasn't going to risk having the new boy torn apart over a game of fetch. Which lead to him being confined to the crate whenever Joe and Trixie were out on their daily game of fetch-snatch until one fine evening Donny learnt how to open his crate door (for some reason all the dogs in Dog Woods seem to have acquired knack of opening doors) and let himself loose.

He seemed to get on with the bigger dogs just fine but would pounce on the poor Bassets plodding about. And you know how it is with dog fights. The minute one starts, the rest wants a bite too. No joy. Can't possibly have water hose on standby all the time to spray down fighting dogs.

I found Donny a nice home with a family of two girls. They both seem to get along. Apparently the man of the house is so taken to Donny, he even puts him to bed come bedtime. He's also very impressed that Donny doesn't need to have a leash when taken on walks. He'd automatically walk at the same pace as his human. In the event he goes off following an interesting scent, he'd always come when called. And as for his fear of storms, he gets to spend his stormy days cowering in the living room of his new home. Hopefully he doesn't do much harm to their furniture!

Pinkest of Health ...

2009-11-05T13:38:00.001+08:00

Spoke too soon about the Furkids learning to respect boundaries ... this morning while feeding the pack their breakfast, I discovered that Brandi was outside the gate - sheepishly looking to be let back in! Was a little worried that Dexter may have sneaked out too since he was no where to be seen, but being a little less adventurous and street wise, but after calling for him, he appeared looking abit groggy. I reckon I must have woken him from his sleep and being a sweet pup as he is, he simply had to come when called.

I suppose now that Brandi is back in the pink she has the energy to be up too all sorts of mischief. While am glad she's recovered, am not too thrilled she's managed to find her way out - yet again. Quite glad that Tubby's in the confined to his play pen area.

As i write this, I've just discovered that Tubby's now gone with Dexter as his sidekick... *sigh* The puppies or rather 'teenagers' are simply bent on going out. At this age, I reckon the boys are looking for 'girlfriends' ...honestly dealing with sick lethargic pups is possibly less worrying than adventurous ones - who disappear into the bushes the minute they find a weakness in the fence!

Must go check fence ..... and wait for them to return. :p

Bout of Tick Fever

2009-10-26T16:06:00.000+08:00

Brandi, Tubby and Dexter especially have been looking quite pale and lethargic lately. From hyper pups they're looking like they've ran out of steam ... Tubby usually bounding ahead is for once trailing tiredly behind. Which is unsual. Dexter on the other hand looks like he's about to keel over if he were to take another step! Brandi has been sleeping more than usual.

Judging from their warmer than warm bodies, pale tongues and gums, I figured they must have the fever. I suspect they got it from the ticks they picked up after one mad dash outside a couple weeks ago. I thought I got rid off all of them but I guess the damage has already been done. They've been bitten.

Anyway, the good news is the Furkids are on the mend. The Vet came and gave the three of them a shot of antibiotics. Another to be repeated in three days time. Additionally, they're also on a course of antibiotics ... Though am not certain if it's a good thing in the long run to douse them with so much antibiotics but since the doctor have started them on it, the only thing to do is to get them to finish them.

Their appetite has gradually returning.  Dexter is actually eating something after refusing food for a couple of days.    Out of the three sick pups Dexter's got it the worst. He was actually drooling when the Vet came to give him his shots.   With him not eating , I had him swollowing liquid vitamins instead - to boost up his immune system. Needless to say, Dexter is looking a little skinnier and longer than usual.

As for Brandi and Tubby, I suspect may have gotten off mildly mainly because they've been exposed to what bad things ticks bring being out and about more. It so happen that on that evening a couple weeks back, Dexter decided to follow suit (usually he's quite happy yapping from the inside of Dog Woods alerting us that his delinquent siblings are out where they are not supposed to).

Thankfully, Wally's spared from the fever. He's the only pup out of the four that stays within the boundary fences - with his mom. So we're keeping them - the sick and health separated for a while.  Have taken tick prevention measures - bathe the entire nine canines (it's a good thing they're rather fond of showers) and fumigated the lot!

Hopefully with them being on the mend, Brandi, Dexter and Tubby will learn (like their brother Wally) that it pays to stay inside the spaciousness of Dog Woods and not try to make a mad dash outside. They've actually been fairly good after that long outing a couple weeks ago. With hindsight, maybe they were already not really feeling so well after their 'adventures'. Tubby - the usual ring leader who leads the mad dash out has been as good as gold since.    I hope he's finally learnt some self control! I've observed, being pack animals, once there's no a ring leader with a bent on going outside, the rest are quite contented to do their own thing and stay within the grounds of Dog Woods.

Fur Kids

2009-10-24T13:32:00.001+08:00

Three brothers ((from Left to Right) : Dexter, Wally (note his bendy legs) and Tubby

I do agree, the Fur kids were adorably cute! Had I been less realistic I would have kept all nine! Having to decide which to give away was possibly the most agonizing of experiences. You can't help but love them all and each of them had furry unique characters of their own.

Dexter for example, I wanted to call him Wombles (from the English cartoon character 'Wombles family') because for some reason as a wee pup his front legs would wobble after playing about with his siblings. But it was difficult getting the others to learn his name ... so I picked a more common name, Dexter - whom some at Dog Woods have taken to calling him 'Gangsta' instead! So Dexter the Gangsta it is ... but unlike his macho tough name, out of the four residing Fur Kids, he's the sweetest of the lot. Though he does have a tendency to wander off on his own. I'd like to think of it as an independent streak.

The other three are more pack oriented. Wally for example, is a true Momma's boy. Where you see Anna, you'd see Wally close by. Needless to say, he being Momma's favourite he's deemed the Alpha Fur Kid whom the others let him get first priority with toys and meals or suffer the repercussions. True to my previous description, althoug he looks like his dad, Tuffy he's really quite a Doberman in behaviour. There's a certain proud gait about him inspite of being born bold legged. For a while as he was growing up I was worried he would be lame - he did hobble quite a fair bit with his bend-y looking legs - rather like a ballerina in perpetual plie (minus the grace of a dancer). Wally

Tubby

Tubby being the chip off the ol' block is the most mischevious of the lot. If you've read the previous postings of his 'adventures and mishaps' - he got me worried sick for awhile. Since he was such a pro at finding ways and means of getting out of Dog Woods, I took to confining him a pen for all our sakes. His safety, my sanity, the rest of the fearful non-dog lovers outside - though I know he's really quite harmless. Just, the reaction of most non-dog lovers (in my part of the world) whom for religious and cultural reasons perceive dogs as an 'untouchable' seem to react almost hysterically even when confronted by a cute shih-tzu.

Then there's Brandi who's the shy-est of the lot. Being theonly girl she tends to be a little more subservient to the boys. But once she trusts you she's possibly the most affectionate of the four. I remember as a wee pup she'd insist on clambering onto my lap and happily sat there for as long as I let her. Now that she's grown and can no longer fit into my lap she'd stand on her hindlegs and give you a hug instead. 'Brandi's Hug' that's what I started referring to her affectionate returns.

Having said that, she's also a co-ring leader to the FurKids escapades outside of Dog Woods - being Tubby's faithful sidekick they would disappear for hours - and I'd always end up fearing the worst. But almost always (thank God), they'd appear rather sheepishly outside the gates - after worn out from their grand adventures outside, waiting to be let back in.

While it's always a relief to know that they know their way back home, their unsupervised escapades outside isn't something am thrilled about. The Furkids clearly know it is unbecoming behaviour and they usually get verbally reprimanded. Yet they do it regardless and look sheepish soon after. It's interesting to note how sensitive dogs are to our tone of the voice. A more gruff tone and they sheepishly know they've done something wrong ...

I'm quite glad that all my efforts of fixing fences and looking for naughy puppies wandering outside are paying off. The Fur Kids lately have been quite good - they no longer make a mad dash outside even when the gates are open. I suppose the the novelty of the great unknown outside of Dog Woods has run its course. They're finally learning to appreciate that there is no place like home!

Furkids Nine

2009-10-19T19:24:00.006+08:00

Proud daddy and some of his pups

Baby Dexter and Brandi in the background

Once not a long time ago, there were nine cutest little furkids whom Anna and the rest of us at Dog Woods both four and legged doted on them. Because they were born with Anna's Doberman black and brown Doberman markings nobody quite believed me when I said Tuffy was the father!

Yes, Anna and Tuffy were an odd couple. And yes they did produce some pretty cute puppies - 3 females and 6 males. Most who first saw the pups said it was Joe that did the job - since he too was black and brown ... but Joe was 'fixed' and there were no other whole male in the vicinity except for Tuffy...

Before the pups were born, I couldn't help but curiously speculate how they would turn out. A larger more solid version of a sausage dog? A miniature hound? - i.e. Tuffy look alikes with Anna's long legs? Or a dog in between - something like a beagle - hound looking, not quite as tall as a Doberman nor as short as a Basset. I wasn't really far off from my guesses - since they all turned out somewhere within those three guesses.

The nine pups - three had more of the basset looks - broad, short and long whom we named Tubby (being truly chip off the ol' block), Buddy and Pinto. The next three that had most of Anna's markings but were built like their father (the sausages) which we named Dexter, Baxter and Eva. The next batch had their father's markings but were slimmer and taller (though not quite as tall like their mom) whom we christened Zsa-Zsa, Wally and Brandi. Interestingly, the older they grew the lighter they became. Today, they are not quite as black furred as they were when they were wee puppies.

The Furkids that remained with us at Dog Woods are Tubby (chip of the ol' block - escape artist extraordinaire and leader of puppy mischief, Dexter - who looks most like Anna but behaves like Tuffy, Wally who's colouring is like Tuffy but behaves like Anna and Brandi - the only girl who looks like a miniature hound.

From left to right: Tubby, Wally, Dexter and Brandi

Anna's Arrival

2009-10-14T19:34:00.007+08:00

Like the lull between present pack of Joe, Snoopy, Tuffy and Trixie - Anna only arrived at Dog Woods about a year and a half later. She was the only adult dog that came to stay at Dog Woods. We were told she was about two years old - but without proper documentation you can never tell for sure. But she was possibly the sleekest looking dog i've seen - dark and elegant. What struck me most what how sharp she looked - from the shape of her nose to her pointedly cropped ears.

Naturally, she was of unsure of herself when she first arrived. But after taking her for a walk about Dog Woods she soon relaxed - sniffing out her new home and leaving her own scent - a ritual, I believe for dogs (whether male or female0 in making the area theirs.

The bassets - Snoopy and Tuffy took to her almost instantly. Tuffy was the more curious of the two. Being male he simply had to make sure that the new dog would not be a potential threat to his already precarious underdog status (Joe was alpha male then and would occassional give Tuffy a hard time). Little did we nor Tuffy know then that Anna would be instrumental to his rise to TOP DOG of Dog Woods.

Joe and Trixie being the bigger and rougher of the then Dog Woods pack were gradually introduced to Anna. Joe would the bully of an Alpha Dog then was constantly surprised by Anna's tenacity. She would not have him shoving her about and being slimmer and longer than Joe was she had an advantage of nipping him in spots where he couldn't get back - like holding on to his forehead while he snapped into the air. For once, I worried about Joe than for the new comer!

There were some initial posturing when it come to introducing Anna to Trixie but Anna being the newcomer smartly realised that it would be wise to tow the line. And towed the line she did until she become a mother to Tuffy's puppies. Now that the puppies are grown, they - the remaining four automatically form Anna's pack which possibly explains the fights between Trixie and Anna.

Two perceived alpha females trying to usurp each other for TOP DOG (female category) spot. Truth be told the real alpha female is actually Snoopy. Being being a basset she prefers to sit back and relax rather than competitively gallop about chasing down all manner of bugs, creatures and strangers. Although she may be a basset of few barks but when she does, every pup, Joe, Anna and Trixie included obliges!

Anna's pregnancy was really an accident. Since all the female dogs had been fixed, Anna's going into heat a couple months after she arrived went on undetected until of course Tuffy started baying and was constatly at her heel since she never really allowed him to catch up with her! We thought then that he was merely 'infatuated' ... all a passing phase. Looking beyond all his noisy wailings, we thought that it was a good thing he was finally getting himself some serious exercise. We were right about the love sick passing phase - just we hadn't planned on the puppy part.

It was a month later - noticing Anna's increasing girth and appetite that we begun to suspect. Was she or was she not pregnant? If she was who can the father be? (Not Joe, he's fixed too!) - we didn't think Tuffy was capable of the job - being much shorter and slower than she was. It was only after the good vet's visit (Joe's best friend other than us) that confirmed that Anna is indeed pregnant and she was due soon judging by her size - which made us panick a little. I for one had no clue about whelping puppies. Although once upon a time ago, my dog did have puppies but I was but a child then.

But the puppies arrived one moon-less Saturday night. All nine of 'em. And Anna was the best mommy ever who fed, cleaned and didn't leave their side (except for when she need to do her business) until they were waddling chubby 3 weeks old.

So that was how Anna came to stay - which made the pack of five and along came the Furkids and for a while there were fourteen canines tearing about Dog Woods. But five have since found loving homes of their own and we decided to keep the four - which makes up the present Dog WOods Pack of nine.

Trixie the Pixie

2009-09-28T10:01:00.001+08:00

With now Joe, Snoopy and Tuffy - the pack felt a little incomplete. There was Snoopy and Tuffy who got on well and played at basset's pace and Joe who sometimes wanted to join in the fray didn't quite get on as well as we hoped ... the Bassets felt he was too rambuctious and would loudly protest - esp. Snoopy. Although low, she had the loudest protest when Joe did something she didn't agree (like mischeviously sitting on her) and surprisingly he'd back off. He would however pick on Tuffy - and Tuffy for a while was terrified of Joe - not daring to move a twitch when Joe was up and about.

So Joe needed a playmate - as robust and rambuctious as he ... and along came Trixie - who's first deed was to nip us all in the butt (Joe included) when she first arrive. She was a wee little thing then but oh so much spirit ... too much infact! Which explains why today most cuts, bruises and grazes are Trixie inflicted :p (Joe and Anna getting the brunt of it all).

She's the only dog at Dogwoods that came with formal papers. Registered as the masculine Rohan Jupiter ... from the Land Under the Winds (yes, there is such a state next to us), the breeders that her to us claimed she came from a lineage of champion Malinois. But since we're not into showdogs nor breeding, she's since been fixed (too bad) and spents hier time guarding Dog Woods and wrestling Joe out of his favourite toy.

"Tic-tic" or 'Tiiiiiiiiicccccc!!' - is what we call her at Dog Woods who thankfully have outgrown her nipping habits - at least when it comes to us humans. But when it comes to her canine buddies, in a frenzy of competitiveness, she sometimes forgets and nips to get ahead (which explains Joe and Anna's wounds). Trixie, as I've already mentioned has loads of spirit. She simply must win - at everything ... even at running. Must always outrun the pack! If they do one length, she'd do two!Pe rhaps it's part of her Sheepie lineage, her herding instincts, Trixie likes circling the Furkids or Joe and I while we're playing the game of 'fetch'.

There were also a few other of her bad habits which we're glad she's outgrown, one of which is her 'flying hug' which would never fail to knock the wind out of anyone (that's if we're prepared) ... on some occassions she'd come from behind and well, someone usually goes off balance :P

With the exception of Trixie, the Dog WOods Pack are home-schooled (at least in the obedience sector). Trixie on the other hand needed some extra firmer help ... So Saturday mornings, Trixie's 'teacher' would come to visit and teach Trixie and yours truly a thing or two about handling a wilful Malinois. Trixie seemed honestly awed by him and would do anything he'd tell her to while she'd pause whenever yours truly tried. Her teacher said something about my being too soft spoken need to sound meaner so the dog would understand this human mean business!

Out of all the dogs put together, Trixie is possibly the fastest, fearless and most determined. It's a good thing she keeps her chasing within the perimeter fences of Dog Woods. We've seen her chase an intruder right up to the top of his van once ... bet he since learn to leave Dog Woods out of break-in list! ;)

The only thing that Tic is afraid of are firecrackers. You'd see her scrambling for cover - even climbing the house grill just to get inside house to cower next to yours truly begging that I stop all that dreadful noise ... not that I can help it. It's part of the festive culture (which happens more than twice a hear) in our neck of the woods. I don't suppose ear plugs work on dogs ...

Tuffy trails

2009-09-20T13:53:00.000+08:00

When Tuffy arrived at Dog Woods, he was barely a few weeks old ... the size of a grown guinea pig! Tiny, compared to what he is now. Poo-pee girl who was a couple months older than, was at least a few times his size. And Joe who always treated Tuffy as the underdog until his Furkids came along could swallow the basset in one gulp, if he wanted to! I won't be surprise if the Vet told us he was heavier than Joe. The furboy is short and compact - heavy enough to totter anyone unprepared by his bulk over.

Tuffy, 'Tub" or "Tubby" - short of Tubular soon became his nickname. Mainly because he reminded us of an overstuffed bolster with legs or the midget Jersey Cow. Unlike Snoopy who's always sniffing for opportunites for treats in between meals - Tuffy spends his time in between meals snoozing - preferring his Zzz to treats!

In between Zzzs and a meal, Tuffy assumed the role of Dog Woods ambassador using his furry looks and charm to his advantage where he soon grew to be the favourite amongst visitors to Dog Woods. He'd greet them with his extended paw - his version of a pawshake and a greeting of "how do you do?" He'd trail visitors everywhere - even to the top of the dreaded stairs and then insist that his humans help him down! He's even one the friendliest terms with the Vet - Yes, even after all his share of poking and prodding! This nosey basset always insisting on poking his nose into the good doctor's bag, sniffing out all the great medicines inside until he's pulled aside.

Another activity that our Tub (of lard) does with relish is to remarking his territory - esp. the all the lamp posts out side of Dog Woods. He's not allowed outside unsupervised since the ol' boy, inspite of his cuteness can be quite an intimidating force. Imagine short furry bulky dog with flapping ears running towards you, growling menacingly ... it's really all fake bravado (since he does that to Joe and his Fur kids all the time!) But it's enough to set any stranger running - which makes him want to give chase even more!

Tuffy boy is known not only as being the father of our ( fortunate accidental) Basset-Dobie furkids but also for his baying! A typical characteristic of hounds, so I was told. He has a special bark for joggers, a growling bay for intruders, a bay to complain that Joe has been pushing him around (yet again!), a bay that dinner's late, a welcoming bay when we get home, a complaining bay that he's not getting enough attention, a bay that he should be the centre of attention and NOT Snoopy or the Furkids, that it's too hot, or too wet ... the list goes on. Tuffy being most verbal of the dogs in Dog Woods has even lost his bark once or twice after his over enthusiastic non-stop bayings when one of the furgirls went in heat. (Thankfully, we no longer have to deal with that since all the furgirls all been fixed! I don't think we nor the neighbours can stomach another non-stop episode of love-sick bayings!)

Interestingly enough, having Furkids and expanding his Basset gene pool has given Tuffy a leg up over Joe's tenacious brains and brawn. The change is evident. Tuffy is now TOP DOG and Joe no longer pushes him about like he used to!

This blog, "Tuffy's Tales" began mainly because of him. An underdog who once trailed after Snoopy and got pushed around by Joe the Rottweiller, is now reigning TOP DOG of Dog Woods - with Furkids on tow!

And then came Po-pee ...

2009-09-11T16:05:00.000+08:00

... which is actually Snoopy. She was nicknamed Poo-Pee Girl because her countless 'Poo-Pee-ing' accidents. It didn't help that she liked her food alot and was perpetually manipulating for more with her soulful basset looks and her special 'Please can I have some more' bark.

So as the laws of nature goes:- what goes in must come out ... and Snoopy had no qualms about 'going' any where, any time without giving much indication to her humans.

Snoopy, who also goes by 'Sch-noops' or 'Poops' has now grown into a prim and proper Basset Furgirl who's now wonderfully house trained. However, the nickname's stuck. It's now affectionately 'Poops-ies' and no longer the exclaimatory 'Poooop-Peeee!!'

Apart from her ' accidents' Snoopy's possibly one of the better behaved pups while growing up - not in a sense that she was devoid of mischief (that would be real odd of a puppy). Snoopy simply had impeccable timing ... her misdeeds - chewing corner of chairs, table, shoes, flip-flops etc. committed only behind our backs and the crime is not discovered until much later ... by then, it's all guess work i.e. 'Whhhoooo did this??!!! Poo-Pee?! Joe?! Tuffy??!' And Snoopy and her (fairly clueless) fall-dogs would look equally guilty, while the real culprit is up to more mischiefs.

Unlike energetic Joe who's always game for 'Fetch', Snoopy likes to be pampered and massaged - like a proper little princess. In her more enthusiastic moments, she'd actually 'indicate' to you (by swinging her head from side to side, pointing her snooters at her tail) that she wants a back scratched and rubbed! Showers however, is one of her least of her 'pampering' activities ... though she's always keen to be towel dried

She once had beautiful velvety ears however, due to her allergies and skin problems that demanded many a shots and pills, the poor girl is now bald bottom ears down. It's because of those traumatic poking and prodding reasons, Snoopy with hackles raised, hates the good doctor or anything related or smells remotely of the VET, vehicles included. Thankfully, she's no longer suffering from angry red itchy rashes. Somehow our hot and humid weather don't quite agree with many imported dog breeds - some, who are more susceptible end up with chronic skin ailments like the nieghbour's absolutely bald dog - which i swear was once a Rottweiller!

It's not surprise then, other than her angry protest at Vet and strangers, most of Snoopy's barking expressions have got to do with food and the timing of meal service. There'll be special barks to indicate that she's hungry, or to complain that service is slow, requesting a tasty treat and some more please! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Gardening FurKids

2009-09-09T07:43:00.000+08:00

What's in the name : Joe

2009-09-07T14:59:00.001+08:00

Hello!

I thought I'd change the style of posting and write about how the dogs of Dog Woods came to Dog Woods and got their names.

Joe was the first dog to make Dog Woods his home ... long before the Pack came to be. He was 5 months old when he arrived. The minute he was let loose from his travelling crate he romped about Dog Woods like it's always been his home. His breeders called him Joe and so the name stuck - with some variations over the years. He's usually 'Joe-ee' when he gets called for dinner or a game of 'fetch' ... but 'Joe!' when he's in trouble. He also goes by Joey with his other best human friend - the Vet.

Like all puppies, he was a mischevious little fellow - who'd chew through things that he was not suppose to chew ... from the telephone, to furniture ... and was always up for a game - at all hours. Joe's also our miracle pup who survived Parvovirus (we're told is lethal to the Rottweiller breeds) and came back after a couple weeks of intensive care at the Vet keen on making up for lost play time!

Although Joe doesn't chew through furniture and household appliances, he's chewing of his toys have gotten him into more trouble - which explains why he's such best friends with the Vet!

Eager to please, Joe not only understands simply commands (verbal or hand signals) like 'sit', 'stay', 'down', 'shake', 'come', 'enough' ... he also understand simple sentences like 'where's your ball Joe-y?' and that would set him on a sniffing search for his ball or ' Can't reach it Joe-ee, can you get that for me?'Joe has also learnt to open doors (from his own crate to the doors in the house) with his paws on his own - we figured it came from watching us humans.

Since they docked his tail when he was a pup, we can't really read his tail cues but Joe-ee makes up for it with his body language, facial expression and range of barks. When his ball is out of reach - in the trees or under the cars or sometimes he'd thrown the ball in sitting room when he's outside ... he'd romp up to the spot, sniff enthusiastically and look at your expectantly and then back to where the toy lies (even if its out of sight). It's almost as if he's saying wordlessly with a big grin on his face, 'Here! Here! I found it! Get it for me please!'

If you're a little distracted, he'd 'holler' to help you along...not the usual ferocious Rottweiller growls but more of a 'Wooah!' and it gets more and more persistent when you choose to ignore him. Translate that into English, that probably goes along the lines of 'Oi! Over here!! Here! Here! (Stop dawdling!)'

So that's ol' Joe who's now four (in human years). Who's as rambuctious as ever - insisting on going for walks and carrying his precious ball about. He is however, taking a little longer to get back to his energetic self, after his second surgery ... but uncannily enough, like all Dog Woods Pack, he'd go about Dog Woods wanting to 'shake paws' with his human friends, like a proper little gentledog (though he isn't exactly that little ...) 'How do you dooo?? How do you dooo?'

And that's another one of Joe's self-taught tricks.

When hell's let loose ...

2009-09-05T19:45:00.001+08:00

Truth be told, we're not really big on festivities on our neck of the woods. There's always so much to do daily - we tend to forget that another season of festivities have arrived. The entire where the inhabitants of hell is let loose would have gone unnoticed had it not been many sightings of gigantic joss stick burnings (some 2 metres tall!), and bonfires. Infact, the Chief mistook the letting off of firecrackers around the neighbourhood recently was some sort of new fangled ritual of breaking fast i.e. "Yay! We can now eat!" (it's the Muslim's Holy Fasting month too) ... only to be informed later on that, it's the Hungry Ghost festival and the firecrackers are to ward off evil hungry ghosts.

Celebrated on the 7th Lunar Month which translates as the eighth month on the Gregorian calender, September ... (not sure how that works out but the Chief guesses if you count 7 moon cycles that would effectively brings us to middle of August and some weeks of September), the festival literally celebrates all hell breaking loose - for a month! Those who observe the festival believe that's when the hungry ghosts are let to roam the earth looking for 'food'.

An interesting superstition that the Chinese have about the festival is that it is bad to go swimming during the 7th month or stay out too late. This belief is that this leaves one open to demonic possession that may lead of injuries, sickness and even death! Needless to say, the 7th Lunar month is not considered an auspicious time to get married, start a business, move house or even to travel.

There's also a local cultural belief about the ominous howls of dogs. So you understand why our superstitious neighbours are doubly spooked when we have a howlin' good time!

Hell Notes

Traditional chinese families would celebrate this festival to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. At the same time, they also pray and pay tributes to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls will not intrude into their daily life and bring along misfortunes or bad luck. They do this by burning joss sticks fake money or 'hell notes' and offer food.

Trick or Treat: Feasts for the Hungry Ghost!

Another belief among the Chinese is that the dead return to visit their living relatives during the 7th month and thus the living family would prepare a sumptuous meal for the ‘hungry ghosts’. The Chinese feel that they have to satisfy the ghosts in order to get good fortune and luck in their lives.

Chinese Opera

In Malaysia and Singapore, it is a common sight to see entertaining ‘ wayang’ or Chinese Opera and concerts performed on outdoor stages. These events are always held at night and are thunderously loud affairs with singing, screeching, dancing and performing. There is a belief that this loud entertainment would attract and please those wandering ghosts (half deaf ghosts perhaps?). Interestingly, the coveted front row seats are always left empty while the living audience are pack at the back ... You guessed it, the seats are reserved for the unseen ghosts!

Check out the paper stuff they are burning ! An entire paper condominium block?!

In addition to burning hell notes, the Chinese also do a lot of burnt offerings for their deceased - mainly paper representations of earthly material needs that the living strive to acquire in their lifetime. It's gotten quite extensive, even the Chief (who happens to be a paper enthusiast) is impressed! From paper high rise blocks (see picture), to houses, luxury cars (Mercedes Benzs!), Rolexs, flat screen TV , paper apparels ... you name it, they'll make it! The belief is, these burnt paper offerings would translate into real forms in hell - thus, providing their dead relatives a luxurious comfortable lifestyle - in hell! (?!)

Which leads us to the next curious question (a question that our fairly clueless Chief have asked her chinese side of the family) ... do all Chinese automatically end up in hell?

'Ear-ring it out ....

2009-09-03T23:07:00.001+08:00

Haaa-woooo there fuwwee fwiends!

It's Waa-Wee posting...

Here are some pictures the Chief took of me with my ears turned out. She says we Furkids look like a cute gob-win (goblin) especially me, with my furry looks. I weally don't know what she's weefurwing to but I hopes its good. Anything cute must be good! :)

All ear-ed out : Dexter, Wally and Tubby

Our ears somethings have a mind of their own. They turn inside out when we play too hard ... not that that's ever stopped us from playing ...

From left to right : Brandi, Wally, Tubby and Tuffy (not facing camera)

Sometimes the Chief would helps them turn inside out and always starts chuckling. When I ask what's so funny, she giggles even more !

When I question her about purposely turning our ears inside out she tells me she's just airing them out so they won't smell ... as IF they do!

Honestly, sometimes I don't unnerstand them human beans ...Waa-wee bye bye!

Oops I ate(s) it ...

2009-09-02T14:09:00.006+08:00

Allo there good furry and fur-less readers !

Dennis Vizla passed us the challenge of recounting tales of what food we've stolen from humans and gobbled. We were going to appoint Joe as our Dog Woods spokesdog since he's got the most experience in exotic chews (i.e. non-edibles) but then we realise that his non-edibles are not considered food.

So ... what have we stolen off our Chief's plate? Nothing really. Come to think of it, we've been really GOOD dogs. No stealing human food ... then again, this TOP DOG would if only I was tall enough to reach the top of the table ... :P

But since ol' Joe needs some form of distraction from his itchy stitches, we'd let ol Joe recount his non-edible chewing adventures which landed him on the V-E-T's operating table, not once but TWICE!

*************************************************************************************

Grrruuufffff!

Thank chews! Thank chews! Short TOP DOG Tuffy, you do me much honor!

I guess you good readers would have read about my surgery(ies) by now. I must say my stitches itches like hell! With that dratted collar that the Chief fixed on me, I can't even reach 'em ... But! the sight of me precious ball (irritatingly beyond reach) keeps me distracted. Chief not trusting me with it now without supervision ... :P

Without further a-woof, I'd just highlight some of my finer chewing moments ...

Ate me first rubber squeaky pig of a toy ... which thanks to my younger more robust digestive system cleared in no time - much to the Chief's horror of finding parts of toy in me regular output ...

Stole and wolf down a small towel. Needless to say, my poop was a little stringy after that.

Highly recommend newspapers! They're a great source of fibre ...

Snatched the TOP DOG's cuter toys and enjoyed eating it - well, part of what could be eaten - which explains the stitches .... and the fact that me digestive system is not quite as robust as it once was ...:p

Chewed through them holee-molee balls which since been confiscated before could chow it down ... they're really not quite as tough as they claim to be but it's still the toughest toy (apart from the gigantic stone of a ball at the bottom of the garden that takes two human beans to move) in the pet store ...

Last but not least, had it not been the support and woofs of the Dog Woods Pack - esp. Trixie and Fur Kids get themselves into all sorts of trouble by stealing bipeds shoes and chewing 'em, swallowing all them non-edibles would have been no fun at all ... (those short basset only steal food ...:P)

*****************************************************************

Happy September and howls in between ...

2009-09-01T10:45:00.003+08:00

Hello there good furry and fur-less readers!

Happy September! Can you imagine ... more than half the year has passed. And our bad, we did the least post in August. Much busy with many injuries (Joe, Trixie, Anna) and V-E-T visits ... (our V-E-T's building a new mansion at our expense!). Everyone's recovering nicely - thank you for the well wishes. Anna has scabs, Joe's still taking it easy - no rough and tumble games of fetch and Trixie in the mean time is in charge of guarding the house at night. :)

We've been practicing our nocturnal howlings. . The Chief wonders if its because its the month long Chinese 'hungry ghost festival' - not that she's superstitious but apparently some of our more scared neighbours (who've been burning hell notes) are not very appreciative of our howls. Somefin about death and ghosts...Arwowowoooo! in our neck of the woods, the gates of hell is left open for a month as oppose to a mere ONE night on Halloween

Anywoos, to keep the peace, the Chief advised to keep our howling to as briefly as possible - or at least howl quietly - if we absolutely must let out a howl or two. :p How's that possible? Them ambulance that wails past the area is like fuel to fire. Can't help it ... simply got to howl along sirens. Wooowoowoo! It's like letting out a good burp after a very satisfying meal - how can one do that briefly or quietly?! We knows, some cultures consider burping quite rude but in others a good burp is but compliments to the chef! We Dog Woods Pack (and other dogs around in the area) are merely paying howling service for great whines ...

As for the great digs around Dog Woods - the Chief & gang are in the process of putting dirt in to patch up them holes. She says, Dog Woods landscape is interesting enough and there's no need for us to add additional bits of' holey surprises' in the area. Harumph! there goes all our hard work ... but on the bright side, least there'll be more dirt to roll in ... Aroooo!

Waa-Wee's Post

2009-08-27T19:19:00.006+08:00

Haaaa-wooooo!!

This be Waa-Wee (Wally) again. With such a sombwe week of Joe being taken to the V-E-T and having sew-gee-wee, me ol' TOP DOG Dad thought it be good to let his Fuw-Kids paw the blog instead. And that vewy impowtant task fall on me becos I'm the Fuw-TOP of the Fuw Kids!

Tubby and Bwandi

Yeah well ... to be honest, there alvays some sowt of pow-wer stwuggle between Tubby boy and I. But becaws am taller, me am able to stare him down to size. Then there's me formidable gwow - *GRRWWWWWWWWoowooowooo* - which I learnt from me ol' Dad. I've been pwacticing alot that's why I always win ...

Dextew is forever chewing on some-fin...

Now what about me other bwother Dextew (Dexter)? He's weally not match at all ... being the show-test of us boys and most intewested in food ... he's usually let's me lead so long as his food bowl is not at stake.

Bwandi and I on sen-twee duty!

Me only sister Bwandi (Brandi) isn't at all intewested in any pow-wer stwuggle. She likes most to play and ex-paw. Sometimes she goes to places she's not allowed to go to and I would bak at her to come back before the Chief discovews how naughty she's been. Usually, my bwother Tubby is her pawt-ner in cwime.

But the last few days, they been vewy good. That's becaws we found ourselves a gweat place to dig ... we are convinced that we will find buwied tweasure soon - smells alot like gigantic bones! Today, the Chief neawly fell into the hole we been diggin' when she was walking Uncle Joe who's back fwom the V-E-T. Can't say she is vewy pleased ...

Uncle Joe's weecovewing. (Thank chew vewy much for the healing vibes and get well wishes!) Still a wee bit tired from his sew-gee-wee. Chief not letting him play with us too much. She thinks he still needs loads of west.

Waa-wee bye bye!

Joe and the V-E-T

2009-08-25T12:55:00.001+08:00

Harrooooo there,

Firstly, thank you kind furry and fur-less friends on sending Anna good healing vibes. Her wounds are healing nicely thanks to the Chief's constant care.

However, over the weekend Joe had to be taken hospitalized because he had not been eating for the last few days. Having past history of eating his toy that couldn't be digested, the V-E-T had him overnight for observation and X-ray only to confirm our worst fears. Joe had chewed another one of his toys and it's sitting in his gut for the last few days now - which explains his lack of poop and his lack of appetite.

He's had his surgery over the weekend. The foreign object (which the V-E-T) describes as something like an eraser (?!) has been taken out and Joe's still at the V-E-T for further observation. The Chief was a little worried about having too much guts taken out of Joe being this his second operation for something simliar but the V-E-T assures our anxious human that dogs have got a lot more guts to spare! :P

Knowing ol' Joe the minute he gets back to Dog Woods, he'll be dying to get out and about and resume his game of fetch-snatch with Trixie. And his lampshade collar (which he always comes back with) won't last a couple hours. At the rate Joe goes about ramming into legs and all sorts of things , nothing lasts! :P

So the Chief decides that it would be best if he stayed yet a couple more days with the V-E-T and rest.

Tuffy reporting.

Monkey in Training

2009-08-18T15:10:00.009+08:00

Har-wooooo!

I be Waa-wee (Wally). (Sowwee. I have wittle pwoblem with me wisping ... can't seem to wap me tongue awound 'elles')

After pestewing me ol' Dad for a while now (which he says is for Beeg Dawgs only) he's finally let me paw this entwy, now that am nearly a beeg dawg. I be one year one month old! :)

I want to show off my vonderful twee (tree) perching skills. GrandmamaChief says I be monkey pup since I wuv hanging out in me favourite twee.

Being a pup of not so many woofs, I let the pictures my grandmama Chief took.

That be me checking up somefins growing out of twee

Some power ear action - without even losing my twee perching balance!

Surveying Dog Woods action from above ...

A haven away from sometimes annoying sibwings ...

It's so comfortable I can even catch some Zzzzs!

I absowutely WUV my Twee!

On the mend ...and some green eyed observations!

2009-08-17T19:28:00.005+08:00

Arroooo roooo there good furry and fur-less readers!

We're happy to report that Anna's wound is mending nicely. The Chief religiously cleans and applies antibiotic ointment daily. We know it's yucky but everytime the Chief feeds Anna her dose of antibiotics we can't help but mosey over curiously, hoping that we'd get the same sort of attention and fuss that Anna's getting and maybe some of those decidedly (since we're not allowed to have them) yummy pills Anna's been getting...

Can't help it. It's canine programming ... when things are in abundance (like bones, toys) nobody is quite so interested. But when there's only ONE ... everyone wants it! :p The Chief only wishes that we're this nose-ily interested when it comes our turn (dog forbid) to get a dose of them bitter pills, instead of running off helter-skelter.

Okay, so we admit, we're all a little jealous at the extra attention Anna's been getting. And Anna, knowing that we're all a little green eyed is enjoying being the centre of attention even more! If you were to watch her as she sits quietly while the Chief cleans , you'd think she actually enjoying it! *Harumph!*

Infact, judging from the little jig she does once the Chief's done, it's obvious she's relishing every minute of it .... now each Dog Woods Poochie are wishing we had boo-boos for the Chief to fuss over :P

A tale of two Bitches ..

2009-08-13T19:39:00.006+08:00

If you ask any pooch what preoccupies his/her mind other than their stomach and play, it's their status in the 'packing order'. And thus, the tale of Dog Woods two Bitches. Anna and Trixie - who've embarked on a saga of tussles . Ranging from snarly faces, to brief confrontational face downs to full fledge violent fights.

The last couple of days we - the rest of us Dog Woods Pack were engaging spectators (can't help it Dog Fights are exciting times!) to Anna and Trixie's 'Bitching'. Major smack down wrestling! And who's emerged the Alpha Bitch? We think it's a draw.

However, we say with much certainty, there'll be more entertaining rounds of tussle ahead. Looks like they're both definitely prepping themselves up for the next round for Bitching smack down.

So far Anna's received the worst end of the battering with her face half swollen from lacerations inflicted by Trixie. However, 'She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed' a.k.a The Chief is the least bit amused by all the (exciting) bitching going on in Dog Woods (spoil sport) She's since taken measures to separating Trixie and Anna ... and all Dog Woods Pack particuarly 'Anna-Trixie' socialization are now closely chaperoned. Any possible inclination of a confrontation and the Chief would issue a menacing growl ... an order enough to freeze any Dog Woods poochie (TOP DOG or otherwise) guilty or not in his/her tracks!

Unfortunately, there'll be no recent pictures this time. The Chief's too upset to take any Anna and Trixie in their battered forms. Anna who seems almost stoic about her facial injuries is now on a couple doses of antibiotics.

It rained!

2009-08-12T15:43:00.003+08:00

Harrooo rooo!

We got our pooter back. Yay - after a week convalescing in the pooter workshop. The adapter and DeeVeeDee drive kapooted and pooter is not even a year old yet! Honestly, equipments these days are built to break down. On the bright side, the pooter is still under warranty - so parts were replaced for free.

We're also thrilled to report that it rained too. Thanks to the cloud seeding procedures. Thank you for all the rainy well wishes! The rainy outburst gave us back our energy to zoom about the grounds of Dog Woods - even if it was close to midnight!

So here's to more rain and cooler days!

drying concerns...

2009-08-07T17:07:00.002+08:00

har roooo! This be a mobile posting. Computer is acting up and the chief deciding tat the problem is beyond her has sent it for servicing.
Any woos, the drought is still here. Compounded by the annual haze. Days are filled wit a perpetual smoky fog - with some days more smoggy than others.
Asking when the dry heaty weather will let up, the chief mutters something hopefully not til september - wch is being reported!
Arroooo! We'd be toast then! In the mean time we're making do with daily showers and loads of cool water - thankful tat we still have ample water supply unlike some places tat have run out of water. We keeping paws crossed tat it wld rain soon and we wont be faced with water crisis.

Drought in Dog Woods ...

2009-08-03T21:33:00.004+08:00

Aroooooooo!

It's been two weeks since it rained. If it not been for the showers and water the Chief faithfully gives us each day, we'd be wilting for sure ... just like the grass on the lawn *pant*pant*pant* She's even starting putting blocks of ice in our water! Just to cool us down ...

Thanks to the heat, we've been somewhat sluggish of late. Most days are spent snoozing ... one siesta session after another. What's making the Chief concern is that we're not really into our dinner ... honestly with the heat who has the appetite to eat? Even the Chief's been gulping down bottles of chilled water. So really our esteemed two leggeded is merely being a silly worry wart!

To make up for our inactivity during the day time we've all turned nocturnal. Talk about pawtying till the wee hours of the morning ... of course, we're considerate enough to keep the noise down. Unless of course there's a stranger lurking about nearby.

The Chief wonders if it's the same with other furry readers i.e. the not eating, the lethargy ... but come night time we're quite our enthsiastic playful selves ... is it a universal thing or is it merely the effect of the humid equatorial heat on Dog Woods Pack?

Lampshade Pooch = Tubby Jr.

2009-07-30T16:09:00.003+08:00

Arroooo rooo there good furry and fur-less readers,

We've been getting many queries about who the lampshade dog is from the video.

It's none other than Tubby Jr. - upon his return from the V-E-T. As the Chief reports, he no longer sports his collar - thanks to his ingenious escaping skills! So, we thought we'd interview the little escape artist extraordinaire to find out what it's like with a collar and where he's hidden it.

Top Dog (TP) Tuffy : Hello there son! How does it feel with that ridiculous collar gone?

Tubby Jr : Wrooofff! Vonderful! I can fina-wy feew the wind in me y-ears! Made yum-yum time pweety tough - darn colla kept getting in me ways ... altho I dar say it was quite usefool getting other dog-gees and humans out of me way ...

TP Tuffy : You were much laughed about both by the rest of the Pack and humans when you returned from the V-E-T, how did that make you feel?

Tubby Jr : Tewwible!! Havin' that bad lamp-sad colla somehow ampwified their teasing ... But! I gots backs by banging into them and pwetending I don't know nothing ... *snickers*

TP TUffy : So son, we're all curious ...where or what did you do to that ridiculous collar of yours?

Tubby Jr : I ates it of course! *burp* Along with me stitch-ies. *bleach* You knows Dad, plastic is vewy vewy appetizing ... you should tries it sometimes ...

TP Tuffy : You ate it?! You gots to be kidding!

Tubby Jr : But I didst too ... that's the only way the Chief would NEVER find that howwid lamp-sad colla and puts it back on!

TP TUffy : Am not sure eating plastic was the wisest thing to do ...

TUbby Jr : But it was the best-est sowultion then! The Chief was smart enough to find where me hids the colla the fwist time ...

TP Tuffy : Errr ...You knows son, next time you could chew the collar to shreds ... If you can't get to it, ask your brothers and sister to help. Am not sure what's going to happen to that tum-tum of yours with plastic bits sitting in there ...

Tubby Jr : Fwet you not Dad, I have an iron casted stomach ... that bad lamp-sad colla is now composting in vawious parts of Dog Woods ...
*Tubby Jr smugly trots off*

TP Tuffy : Ohhh ... I don't know if the Chief would like to hear that ...

Wordless Video Wednesday

2009-07-29T03:15:00.002+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg--Sr9Ewc8

Little LampShade Boy / Mr Hou-dit-it ...!?!

2009-07-27T21:57:00.011+08:00

Hello there!

It's the Nurse reporting. Or Missy as the locals here call nurses.

The dogs are on the mend. I don't think many of them realise that they 'sporting' boo-boos. I say sport, because they seem to be blissfully unaware of their wounds until I come along and head lock 'em (for the not so cooperative ones) or conjole and sweet talk the others that can be persuaded. It's a good thing I only have to corner and 'head-lock' only one...

That's, little Mr Hou-dit-it. Or Tubby Junior. The little escape artist who came home with a huge deep cut on his hind leg.

Little LampShade Boy ...

He came back from the Vet a couple days ago sporting a collar. Yes, the lampshade collar. I've been teasing him calling him 'little lampshade boy' until this morning when I discovered he had ditched his lampshade ... only to find it much later in the evening in the furthest corner of Dog Woods.

He was such a klutz with a collar on banging into all sorts of things - legs, dogs, gates, fences, trees ... it would have been funnier if it weren't so painfully annoying being rammed from behind by the 'lampshade boy'. Honestly, how he got through the two fences with his lampshade collar to the far end of Dog Woods is still a mystery!

The dog's a canine Hou-dit-it version of Houdini!

It's a good thing his exit out of Dog WOods have since been blocked - by boulders (This Missy also doubles as Dog Woods of ministry of works and maintenance).

And that's NOT the extent of little Mr Hou-dit-it's mischief...in one night, he's also managed to unravel the Vet's good stitches! And now the wound is gaping gash once more. On the bright side, it's drying up - no more bloody runs. But on the down side, am appalled. Not knowing whether I should sent the boy for another round of stitching (yes Martha and Bailey, the Vet's really building his mansions at Dog Woods Pack's expense!) or to just leave it at that of course, with daily tending of his wounds.

Stitch no more!

... along with the rest...

The older dogs, Joe, Anna and Trixie are mending very nicely. Which am glad. Dried up scabbing wounds are a good sign. At least from this 'Missy's' point of view. ;)

So, Trixie MUST always carry something in her mouth whether it be bottle or ball. Joe must have his ball and no one (four leggeded) else will even get sniffingly close without suffering some sort of warning (with the exception of yours truly).

And Anna ... well, Anna is a tricky one. She has her moods. While she's the sweetest Doberman with this Missy, she's not a dog to be crossed - at least amongst the Dog Woods Pack. At the rate she's going whooping the rest into shape - yes including the Rottweiller Joe, I dare say she's the Alpha Female of Dog Woods! (Don't tell Tuffy though ... he likes to think he's Top Dog)

The Dog Woods Pack dynamics are forever evolving ... but first and foremost, I have to deal with little Lampshade-(less) boy or Mr Hou-dit-it!

It's all an injurious phase ...

2009-07-24T09:08:00.005+08:00

Hello there good furry and fur-less readers,

It's not always fun and pawties at Dog Woods - although our pictures and videos always seem to show us up to all sorts of poochie mischiefs. ;) We've had our share of boo-boos too ... it's a good thing nothing too serious.

Joe & Trixie : In for their daily dose of Fetch-Snatch with Donny on tow

First there's Joe ... who loves playing the game of fetch whom Trixie would almost always attempt to snatch from. Sometimes, it gets a little rough. Trixie especially - being of sheepie descent, tends to give Joe a nip whenever he beats her to the ball.

Sometimes she really doesn't know her strength and well, ol' Joe is now nursing a wound on his side which the Chief attends to daily, cleaning, dressing, giving his medicine - not that he's noticed it much ... since give him a ball and he'd forget even his food! That's how much Joe loves his ball and the game of Fetch!

The only way the Chief can stop Trixie from nipping Joe in frenzied excitment is to give her something to hold in her mouth ... another ball. But she'd still chase Joe and his ball with ball in her mouth!

The Chief reckons, the only way is to stop anymore of these injuries happen is to stop them from playing together completely ... which is really a shame ... because they do get on very well with each other if only Trixie could contain her bitey-excitment a little ...

Tubby and his teary eye

Then there's mischievious little Tubby the Fur Kid who seemed to have gotten himself in all kinds of fixes lately. The other day the Chief noticed him 'winking' - which is odd because dogs don't usually keep one eye shut unless well, they're yours-doggedly TOP DOG of Dog Woods who wants to be on top of things even if am snoozing!

While she was fixing Tubby's teary eye over the last few days with some ointment from the V-E-T, Tubby turns up waiting outside the main gates of Dog Woods (apparently he did another escape one evening while the Chief was out and was waiting to come back in!) with a deep gash on his left hind leg. The Chief was most alarmed esp. with the amount of blood pouring out of Tubby wound. Our brave FurKid however, was alot less worried about his wound until the Chief had him cornered to treat injury.

Anywoos, Tubby as we speak is at the V-E-T getting his wound stitched up. The Chief hopes he comes back with a cone - a sort of deterrent in escaping through the fence while the Chief combs Dog Woods' for Tubby's secret escape route.

Which brings us back to Trixie whom the V-E-T also had to attend to because she discovered to be painfully hobbling about yesterday morning. Not quite sure what was her problem under all that fur, whether it was muscular? a bone dislocation or a hidden wound, the Chief had the V-E-T also look into Trixie's boo-boo along with Tubby.

Which leads us to Anna who's found to be sporting a gash wound behind her left ear (which was looking oddly droopy) and a small gashes on her neck - which the Chief didn't notice until AFTER the V-E-T's visit. Anna's wounds since been attended to ....

The Chief has concluded from Trixie and Anna's injuries, that the two of them probably got into a fight the night before (only dog knows about what) and Trixie lost. Which explains the Pixie's mournful, morose limping look ... while Anna's was a little more stoic about her boo-boos.

Inspite of their boo-boos, Trixie, Anna, Joe and Tubby apart from seeking a little more attention from the Chief, is really their normal energetic selves.

The Chief's paranoid about potential devopment of maggot wounds or anything else potentially horrid, is probably more stressed about their boo-boos than they are!

But well, we dogs heal. Fair quickly too. We gentler bassets have reminded the Chief that it's all merely an 'injurious' phase ...!

But really the Chief argues, why must we all get injured at almost the same time!

Wordless Wrestling Wednesday

2009-07-22T14:12:00.000+08:00

Snooze-Play-Snooze-Etc.

2009-07-21T10:09:00.006+08:00

Hello there good furry and fur-less readers!

Fur kids : Wally and Brandi (with tongue sticking out)

We've been really busy lately - with the above mentioned. Yes, it's simply much too hot in our neck of the woods ... actually to be specific, it's been down right humid. So much so we - including the Fur Kids (this is a FIRST) have been imploring the Chief for showers! Woo0 ....

The thing about the heat is that it simply sucks the energy out of any canine (or human)! It's only natural that our play sessions these days are much shorten while our snooze hours extended.

The Chief's been real busy too lately - mending fences. Literally. She and another Dog Woods Staff been poring over certain sections of the fences trying their best to patch up holes. The Chief describes, "... it's rather like 'patch work sewing' but with wire mesh ... "

The reason for our Chief's recent fencing concern is that a couple of our Fur Kids are escape-artists-extraordinaire. Young (and rather unruly) Brandi and TUbby, have successfully been finding weaknesses in both (yes we have TWO!) inner and outer fences.

Just yesterday Brandi and Tubby, inspite of their stubby little legs were seen chasing some poor fella. We don't know which human was more stressed, the poor fella that was being pursued, or the Chief!

Good thing he could run - way lot faster than they could! Although the chase - from the Chief's point of view, was not so much a malicious 'Got-to-get-a-taste-of-your-flesh' kind of chase more of the "Boy! this is fun! The-territorial- I'll-chase-you-right-out-of-my-woods!" either that or, "When-I- run -out- of- steam!" - which for once, the Chief was thankful it was hot & humid and our Fur kids ran out of steam soon (-er) enough ...

Irregardless of what the puppers' motivation for a chase, the Chief is not at all keen for another incident like that to happen again! We don't think we'd see the poor fella walking by our neck of the woods for a while either ....

Anywoos, we've got whiff that the fencing is to be replaced. 'About time too ...!' mutters the rather stressed out Chief. Apparently getting people to come and do the fencing has not been easy either ... it's either the reputable ones are having trouble retaining their staff (because business have been bad) or simply preoccupied with minimal staff in their present project ...

We leave you with another video - this be one of the older videos - judging from how small the pups were! We simply got to get the Chief to take more recent videos of our cute furry selves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDs1bHO7NmY

Dog Woods Video Test

2009-07-16T14:51:00.004+08:00

Hello there!

We're testing out posting video via You Tube. Not sure if it'll work. But here goes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3lQ22hc8CA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNtQS58AEc

And we found this video on You Tube and liked it very much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2wpALJHCKA

Wordless Zzzzzzz Wednesday

2009-07-15T18:02:00.003+08:00

Howlin' Good Time ...

2009-07-12T19:58:00.006+08:00

Arrrooooo there good furry fur-less readers,

We would have liked to post a video of the Chief performing her ditties to us very appreciative canine audience but alas, we haven't quite figured out how to do that yet... maybe one of you clever readers could give us a few pointers or two?

We also can't help but agree with Jake and Fergie that 'life without music would be a mistake' - no matter how simple or silly made-up tunes turn out to be. The Chief tells us that when she was a mere pup a little older than our Fur Kids she used to have pet chickens and she would sing to them too! But she tells us we're her most appreciative audience so far (but of course! we canines have larger appreciative capabilities than them bird brains!)

On some special occassions, she'd end her ditties with a howl (for a human she can do quite a good doggy howl) just to get us to howl along! Awwooooo-wooooo-woooo-wooo! Normally, it's the wailings of sirens (the ambulance or police) that would set us lot howlin' ... Awooowowowowoooo! But really, it's not quite as howlin' good fun as awooowooo-ing with the Chief!

She admits as much as she enjoys howlin' along with all of us, she says its not exactly an accepted behaviour - for both humans and canines. Apparently, there's a superstition in our part of the world that a dog's howl is an ominous sign of things to come.

The Chief of course, isn't the superstitious sort ... else she wouldn't add in a howl or two to her ditties. But there's also the rest of the Dog Woods Humans and the neighbours to consider - so to keep the peace on our neck of the woods, we keep our howlin' sessions to the bare minimum. But of course, there's no limit to our Chief's silly made-up dittys!

Silly Songs

2009-07-10T15:58:00.006+08:00

Hello there furry and fur-less readers,

We don't know about your two legged-eds but our Chief have a ditty little habit (not dirty) which is really quite amusing. If she thinks we're silly, you should spend time with her to note she's equally silly - if not sillier to sing about our silliness!

At anytime she's with us, she would (whether unconsciously or not) start humming her a tune, some times an old tune from songs she grew up with or a tune she'd make up on the spot. Almost always, the dittys are about either one of us and our quirks.

I daresay, we've all grown quite fond of our songs. Infact, we like the fact that it brings out each and everyone of the Dog Woods Pack 'Star Quality'

Our all time favourite is 'Tuffy Boy and Poo-Pee Girl or Joey boy and Trixie girl or Tubby boy and Brandi Girl '. It's a repeated tune that reminds most humans of the children's nursery rhyme the 'Londong Bridge is Falling Down'. But ours ends with 'My fair dog-gies!' *giggles*

There's one about Anna-Nananananaaa, the Banananaaaa ....which Anna absolutely loves! You can tell by the way she beams every time the Chief sings that to her!

Then there's that ditty about our boys leaving their pee-mail. If you heard her humming you'd think she was humming the chorus of the popular Christmas carol 'Oh Christmas tree!' except the song goes on like this :-

'Oh Tubby boy, Oh Tubby boy - Showerer of Dog Woods' Dustbins!' ... and something about having to clean up after him because of the stink ... :P